Surviving family members gathered to share memories, loss and support one another during the annual Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice Tree of Life Ceremony Thursday evening at Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital.

“This activity is going on in 12 different places in the southcentral region,” Meredyth Bellows, chaplain at SBA Hospital, said as she welcomed everyone to the activities.

Chaplain Art Smith, from the hospice shared further thoughts with the group.

“This is a service that fulfills several different needs for us as a hospice,” he said.
“This is a service of remembrance.”

It also was a service of hope, and a fund raiser for the hospice.
Smith shared a story with the group out of the book “Why Are the Casseroles Always Tuna.”

The story told about one families difficult time at Christmas after losing a loved one and how they learned to let Christmas and joy back into their lives.

“Love isn’t something that ends with death,” Smith said. “Love deepens the joy of simply being alive.”

He told those present that the healing would start, although things would never be the same as they were again.

He said his prayer was that everyone could celebrate the Christmas season this year.
The names of those who passed away this past year were read during the ceremony and the El Dorado High School Encore, show choir, entertained the group with several numbers, including some Christmas tunes.