The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
IN LOVING MEMORY
Behm Family Funeral home holds annual community service
Since 2001, the Behm Family Funeral Home in Madison has offered its community a candlelight memorial service, to provide a sense of community and peacefulness in lieu of the holiday season. On a cold yet calm Nov. 19, community members gathered again to honor and remember those they have lost.
Lindsey Bell of Geneva attended the memorial to honor her cousin and niece, whom she and her family lost in the past year.
“I think the holidays will be hard, so I think it’s nice having something to do together for them,” Bell said.
Behm’s Candlelight Service of Remembrance has always taken place the Monday before Thanksgiving at its Madison funeral home, 26 River St. It aims to help families begin the holidays with healed hearts. The annual service began after directors decided they wanted to give something special to the community to unite them and help them remember. Nearly two decades later, the memorial gives community members a chance to grieve for lost loved ones and “to gather, remember and celebrate their lives.”
Guests were invited to either bring their own ornament or select one provided by the funeral home. During the service, the names of those who
have died were read and loved ones in attendance were invited to place the ornament on the Tree of Remembrance. In a similar way, guests held candles that were lit to “signify light and love.”
Some, like Amy and Bob Nye, attended in order to remember several members of their family who have died.
The Nyes honored eight family members including grandparents, parents and siblings, and they’ve been coming to the event since 2002.
“We bring new ones (ornaments) every year,” Amy said, “and take the other ones and keep them at home.”
Amy added that her family had moved to Madison in 1963. Her father, Johnny Ray, who died in 2004, was very involved with the community and was a friend to the Behm family.
“At one point, dad even helped... Mike Behm used to run the ambulance to go to the hospitals and pick up the deceased people and bring them back,” Amy said. “My dad would
go on the calls with him to go get the loved ones and bring them back, and he helped get them prepared.”
Pastor Rick Hughes of Central Congregational Church in Madison, also spoke to the congregation about finding comfort in their grief.
“There is blessing in remembering our loved ones,” Hughes said, “...because we know that death is not the final word for any of us.”
He mentioned that remembering can give us roots and remind us of who we really are.
The congregation sang “Let There Be Peace on Earth” to close the memorial. The song spoke volumes, as one man noted that it “should be the national anthem.”
Afterward, refreshments were served and guests were invited to fellowship inside the funeral home.
About the overall purpose of the memorial, Behm Hospitality Manager Danelle Miller added, “We are thankful that these loved ones were in our lives.”
The Tree of Remembrance will remain lit through the end of December.