Tree of Memorial Lights recognizes missed loved ones
Bonner General Community Hospice Director Tami Feyen, pictured left, speaks during the 30th Tree of Memorial Lights ceremony.
Photo by ERIC WELCH
SANDPOINT — The holidays bring us together. Sometimes, that togetherness can emphasize the absence of loved ones no longer with us.
To recognize and remember friends, colleagues and family members who have passed on, Bonner General Health Community Hospice hosted the 30th Tree of Memorial Lights event in Sandpoint on Tuesday evening.
“Losing someone we love can feel like losing a part of ourselves, and in a way, it is,” Ginna Minervini, hospice nurse, told attendees. “We grieve not just for the absence, but for the void that they leave behind.”
During the ceremony, members of the hospice team lit candles and placed them within a wreath before attendees. They then read names submitted on the hospice service’s website; attendees were also invited to speak names in remembrance of companions.
“It’s so important to hear your loved one’s name out loud and say your loved one’s name out loud,” said Bonner General Community Hospice Director Tami Feyen.
Minervini encouraged attendees to recognize the lessons taught to them by loved ones and experiences enjoyed together as time passes.
“As we move forward, may we find peace not in forgetting, but in remembering. May we celebrate the lives of those we've lost, not just with tears, but also with gratitude for the time that we shared,” she said.
“No matter how we choose to honor the people that have passed — whether it's storytelling, acts of kindness, or embodying the values or activities they cherish — the love and experiences we share becomes a source of strength that helps us navigate this life.”
Most importantly, the ceremony offered mourners a chance to lean on one another as they navigate grief during a time when companionship is especially sorely missed.
“We all grieve, but a lot of times, people feel alone in that grief,” said Minervini. “It’s important that they know that they’re not alone.”
The event also featured music, including a harp performance by Lissa DeFreitas. The ceremony ended with a sing-along to Amazing Grace — a hopeful reminder of resilience in the face of adversity.