Duke always did things his way. He was a 57-year-old man who caught alligators in the Florida Everglades for a living, had been married five times and had a 20-year-old parrot who would cuss everyone who entered Duke’s apartment. Duke loved to introduce folks to his wife of seven years, Marie. “Yeah, she’s my fifth wife; I had to get married five times before I finally found the right one!”

Duke was on VITAS service for several months and was cared for by home care Team 155 of Broward at a VITAS inpatient hospice unit. Duke was a favorite patient of the team and he became especially close with the team chaplain. The two of them had long talks about alligators, about how to teach the parrot new jokes and about spiritual issues, which had become very important to Duke. Duke also spoke with the chaplain and Marie about his funeral and memorial service, which all agreed would be done “his way.”

Duke had a great sense of humor and told jokes until the day he died. He died peacefully at the inpatient unit surrounded by his wife and children.

His funeral was conducted a few days later, and the church was full. Several of Duke’s friends gave touching and, at times, funny eulogies. Many of the inpatient hospice unit staff were in attendance, as were members of his home care team.

The following week, Marie, Duke’s children and the VITAS chaplain met at Everglades National Park to carry out Duke’s final wishes. Several of Duke’s friends pulled up, their pickup trucks towing airboats. Everyone climbed aboard, and with a deafening roar they raced across the Everglades . Alligators splashed and took cover as the airboats sped across the swampy terrain. Miles into the Everglades the boats came to a stop and formed a circle at one of Duke’s favorite places. The chaplain stood on the front of one of the airboats and talked about Duke, concluding his remarks and prayers with Duke’s requested quote: “Alligators breed like crazy and make a big splash!”

The chaplain then scattered Duke’s ashes in the Everglades among Duke’s good friends—the alligators.