The chapel at HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital was the site of the 10th annual Candlelight Memorial Service for those who have lost someone, specifically those who were in hospice care in the last two or three years. As people walked into the chapel, they were given a program, asked who they were remembering and given a battery-operated tea light candle.
If they had a picture of their person, they could choose to display it on a bulletin board in the front of the chapel. The service began with a welcome from Kelsey Frost, the HSHS Hospice Manager. Following was a sing-along to “Amazing Grace.
” Then, a sermon was given by Krista Stokke, who works in HSHS Hospice Spiritual Care. Afterwards, the Candle Ceremony was presented by Valerie Engelbart, supervisor of the Bereavement and Volunteer Services, where she read the names of those in attendance who have lost someone. As she read the list of names, each audience member walked to the front of the chapel, turned their candle on and set it on a table, front-and-center.
“This candle lights in loving memory of a beautiful life and a heart so deeply loved,” the program reads. To close, a benediction was given by Reverend Lori Peach-Filban, who works in HSHS Hospice Spiritual Care. Carolyn Rohlfing, 63, attended the service in memory of her aunt who passed away on June 12, 2024.
She was 103 years old. “I thought it was a really nice service,” said Rohlfing. When asked if the upcoming holidays might be hard without he.
