The Love Light Tree will again glow throughout the holiday season in memory of lost loved ones.
A public lighting ceremony for the Munson Hospice and Palliative Care trees will be held Sunday afternoon at the First Congregational Church. For the 13th year, the symbolic tree lighting and memorial service offers comfort to grieving family and friends.
The actual three Love Light trees, which will remain lit throughout the holidays, are located outside the main entrance of Munson Medical Center. Another Love Light Tree is situated in the lobby of Munson Community Health Center and was decorated Monday morning by Munson Hospice and Palliative Care staff.
The lighting ceremony has been held at the First Congregational Church for the past few years in honor of the event's memorial mission. When the Love Light Tree began, sparked in 1995 by nurse Jane Leidich in honor of her mother, the lighting took place at various locations in Munson Medical Center. The gathering soon required more space as participation grew.
"We are actually physically lighting the Crismon tree at the church, a tree of Christian symbols but it's not necessarily a Christian service,” said Rev. Barbara Hoig, chaplain for Munson Hospice and Palliative Care, of Sunday's service.
Sunday's service will also feature a talk by Rev. Dr. Ken Doka, a Presbyterian pastor who is on the National Hospice Board.
"He specializes in grief and bereavement,” noted Hoig, adding that Doka is conducting an all-day seminar for professional caregivers on Monday.
An anticipated 100-200 family members and hospice staff and volunteers are expected to attend the Love Light Tree lighting ceremony.
One solemn facet of the service is a reading of names. These short memorials to people who have died are compiled from family members and friends, up to the start of the event, and read by volunteers. A book of names will be available for viewing in the lobby of Urgent Care at Munson Community Health Center.
Barbara Goodearl of Traverse City has been a hospice volunteer for 20 years, locally for the past four. She is one the crew of readers who will announce the names of the deceased one by one.
"I have taken care of a lot of these people and gotten to know their families and gotten close to them, so it's very meaningful and very moving to be privileged to read the name of their loved one during their service,” said Goodearl, who will also play the harp at the event. "Then my sister-in-law died this year at the Hospice House and she will be one of the names read this year so that makes it extra special.”
"It's just a beautiful, beautiful ceremony and the speaker is always wonderful and very uplifting,” added Goodearl, who began volunteering with a hospice program downstate after her first husband and parents received care from hospice.
The deep connection formed among families, caregivers and volunteers transcends the formal ending of their relationship when the patient dies. Many family members, volunteers and staff look forward to reconnecting at the Love Light Tree lighting every year.
"You'll hear family members say, 'That's my nurse,' or 'Where's my home health aid?'” said Hoig. "They're very happy to see those that they recognize.”
The 13th annual lighting of Munson Hospice and Palliative Care's Love Light Tree will be held on Sunday, December 2, at 2 p.m. at the First Congregational Church. The public is welcome and the church is located at 6105 Center Road.