Hospice ceremonies honor local loved ones
Hospice of Humboldt offers ways to remember loved ones over the holiday season
For 34 years, Hospice of Humboldt has offered people a special time to come together to remember and honor the lives of their loved ones. This year, Hospice of Humboldt is holding two “Light Up a Life” candle lighting ceremonies: at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Dec. 4 at Hospice of Humboldt, 3327 Timber Fall Court, Eureka.
“We invite the whole community to gather with friends and family to hear music and words of comfort and light a candle to … honor and remember loved ones,” said Christine Miller, Hospice of Humboldt philanthropy and outreach coordinator.
Along with time for reflection, the ceremonies will include music by Elizabeth Smith, the Arcata Threshold Choir and Hospice of Humboldt chaplain Taylor Hagbo, who’ll perform a song, “Light Up My Life,” that he wrote for the event.
“As a chaplain, I‘ve been interacting with a lot of families as they lose much-beloved individuals to death,” Hagbo said. “With this loss, there is a sense that a light in their life has gone out, and many won’t know how to face the darkness alone. This song lifts up the despair of losing that light, as well as the hope in knowing that a loved one’s light never truly leaves us.”
Candle lighting ceremonies are free to everyone who’d like to honor/remember a loved one. Hospice encourages people (at no cost) to bring a small memento or photo of the person they’re honoring to place on an altar during the ceremony.
“When you are grieving — whether it be a recent loss or over the years — the holidays can be a challenging time,” Miller said. “Hospice of Humboldt understands the benefit of passing ritual milestones as a person journeys through the feeling of grief and loss. This event offers our community a chance to come together and bring the names of their loved ones into a celebration.”
“Remembrance Ribbons” with names of those being honored during this season will be on display during “Light Up a Life” ceremonies, as well as at Eureka Natural Foods in McKinleyville, Arcata City Hall, Eureka City Hall and Umpqua Bank in Fortuna from the second week in December
through the first week of January. The names will be listed in the Times-Standard Dec. 22.
While the deadline to submit names to be up at the candle lighting events was Nov. 22, “we will also include any names received between now and the candle lighting ceremony in the ribbon display locations,” Miller said.
“Life Up a Life” season this year included several other events, including a workshop titled “Remembrance and Healing During the Holidays” on Nov. 9 and Hospice’s 40th anniversary celebration on Nov. 16.
Also available for 2019 are purple Swarovski crystal hearts ($100 each) and newly designed tribute cards ($50 each), which can be obtained at the ceremonies and throughout December while supplies last.
All donations support Hospice of Humboldt and its mission to provide heartfelt end-of-life care and bereavement services to all who need them in northern Humboldt County.
“Light Up a Life … is our largest annual fundraiser,” Miller said. “People from all over the United States will purchase a crystal or tribute card or make a donation in in the name of someone close to their heart. These donations ensure that care for all who need our specialized services is an ongoing legacy our community can depend on.”
Hospice of Humboldt has a staff of over 100 employees, as well 118 community volunteers. Hospice provided end-of-life care to 625 patients and their families last year, Miller said. For more information, call 707445-8443 or go to www. hospiceofhumboldt.org.