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May 27 , 2008

Memorial service remembers deceased

Photo caption: Sheila Jones, daughter-in-law, and Alyssa Smith, great-granddaughter of  Carl Jones, were present at a May 18 memorial service hosted by Haywood Regional Medical Center Hospice. Carl Jones died last December.

Haywood Regional Medical Center Hospice hosted a memorial service May 18 at the Chapel at Lake Junaluska. The purpose of the service was to honor all hospice and community clients who died and were served by the hospice bereavement program during the time of April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008.

During that year, approximately 225 families experienced a death.

The “Celebration of Memories” service included music by Craig Summers, a message given by Hospice Chaplain Jim Trice, a necrology reading by registered nurses Vince Stringfellow and Meridee Anderson. Flowers for the ceremony were cut and arranged by hospice staff Kathy Odvody and Dawn Ellis.

The altar displayed photographs of the deceased; and a candle was lit in memory of each patient.

Each family gathered behind the chapel at the conclusion of the service. Everyone held an envelope with a Monarch Butterfly inside. The 250 butterflies were released simultaneously. Jenny Williams, hospice program manager introduced the butterfly release with a poem: On The Wings of Hope.