The annual Tree of Life and Candlelight Services of Remembrance, hosted by Community Hospice & Palliative Care, honors the memory of loved ones in a program of music and reflection.
This free event is open to the public and will be held 5:45 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, at the Stephen R. Chapman Family Community Campus in St. Augustine. Attendees are invited to bring a photo of their loved ones to display on the memory table. The campus will be adorned with lights and evergreen trees decorated in ivory ribbons personalized with the names of loved ones.
Anyone in the community who has experienced a loss, regardless of if they received care from Community Hospice, can honor their loved one.
“During the holidays, we know that the memory of our loved ones, and the grief and sadness we feel because they are not with us, can make feelings about our loss especially strong or difficult to deal with,” said Susan Ponder-Stansel, president and CEO of Alivia Care Inc. “The Tree of Life and the memorial service that goes along with it, began as a way for us to invite all those in the community who want to remember a loved one to come together for an evening of thankfulness for the lives of those we loved, comfort and support. The ribbons and ornaments, as well as the family pictures many of those who attend bring with them, are visible reminders that our loved ones were with us and that their memory will never be forgotten. This year, with all that we have lived through during the pandemic, we especially want to invite anyone in our community, no matter when then their loved one passed, to join us on the beautiful campus of the Chapman Center.”
Ribbons and ornaments to honor the memory of loved ones are available for purchase, but no purchase is required to attend the service. If you would like to purchase a ribbon or ornament to be displayed on the trees for the service, call 904-886-3883 or go to TOL.CommunityHospice.com by Nov. 28. Funds raised through the purchase of ornaments and ribbons for the Tree of Life support the programs and services provided by Community Hospice.
