Hospice Tree of Memories Virtual Celebration of Life

Preparations are underway for the 25th Central New Hampshire VNA & Hospice Tree of Memories Celebration of Life and Remembrance. This annual event will be held on Saturday, December 12. However, due to COVID 19, attendees will not be able to gather in person for the usual event. A virtual Celebration is planned, for more information visit www.centralvna.org. 

Fir trees will still be at the same locations for this ceremony: Huggins Hospital in Wolfeboro and the Wakefield Town Hall in Wakefield.

Central New Hampshire VNA & Hospice provides an opportunity to remember the lives of family, friends and neighbors by participating in a touching ceremony which involves the lighting of a tree, sharing of music and prayers, words of comfort, reading of names and the placing of an inscribed porcelain dove on an evergreen tree. In addition, many local clubs and organizations find this is a wonderful opportunity to honor and remember past members. The same spirit will be celebrated this year through a virtual celebration.

One might ask how did the Hospice Tree of Memories begin? Several years ago, Shirley Richardson and her late husband, Bob, while visiting Cape Cod during the Christmas season, had the opportunity to take part in a meaningful ceremony to remember Shirley’s parents. Organized by the local hospice organization, the event included placing an inscribed seashell on an evergreen tree. It was such a profound experience that Shirley and Bob brought the idea to the local hospice organization in Wolfeboro and in 1995, the first Tree of Memories was established.  A dove was selected to hang on a fir tree as a symbol of serenity, peace and tranquility. A touching ceremony was created and today, 25 years later, that same tradition will continue.

Each year hundreds of doves are placed on the four village fir trees, but this year due to COVID-19, volunteers will hang all the doves on the trees where they will remain throughout the month of December. Proceeds from the sale of doves are used to improve the quality of life for people living in those communities served by Central VNA. 

A reality of the times is endeavors such as the Hospice program require community support through donations in order to meet the increasing needs of over 20,000 residents in over 500 square miles of area served.  

For more information or to purchase a dove, contact Central VNA by calling 1-800-244-8549 or visit www.centralvna.org. The deadline for purchasing a dove is December 8. Everyone is welcome to view the virtual celebration as details become available.

Central VNA’s staff and volunteers share our grief in that they are supportive in our grieving, not only to the patient, but also to the patient’s family. The Hospice staff supports the patient and the patient’s family by providing nursing, therapeutic, medical psychological, social, and spiritual care and bereavement services.