Caring for a terminally ill loved one is perhaps one of the most challenging times of someone's life.

And for many years in the Southern Tier, there weren't a lot of options to provide a home-like environment for hospice care.

Father Clarence Rumble saw the difference they could make while visiting his aunt at Francis House in Syracuse.

"We were so impressed with the care and the love and the dignity and the support," said Mercy House fouder Clarence Rumble.

Rumble knew that his Broome County community could use a similar facility.

After years of work and planning, Mercy House of the Southern Tier opened its doors.

The former St. Casmir's Church in Endicott was converted into a 24-hour-care facility for the terminally ill.

"If you think of Mercy House as a large home with 10 bedrooms, and we're all a family, so to provide them with not only the medical care, but everything they would like in their final days," said Executive Director Linda Cerra.

Since opening back in March 2016, Mercy House has served close to 450 individuals and their families.

"When we first started this, we knew that there was a need in the community for such a place. I don’t think we knew how great of a need there was, so it's kind of overwhelming, but the community has embraced it, and they step up," Rumble said. 

Much of the care at Mercy House comes from the 275 volunteers.

They provide everything from simple visits to home cooked meals.

"We would not be here today without our volunteers, and many times they say when they leave here they feel so blessed, and they feel that they receive more out of volunteering here, for themselves, than what they're providing for the residents," Cerra said. 

Mercy House accepts patients on a first come, first serve basis and is non-denominational.