Oaklawn Annual Hospice Memorial Planned for March 9 at Maple Grove Bible Church

MARSHALL – 2024 marks the first year since COVID that the Annual Oaklawn Hospice Memorial will return to an in-person gathering. Recognizing the importance of physically bringing people together to honor their loved ones, this year’s event will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, March 9, at Maple Grove Bible Church, 18511 L Drive South.

“I’m happy that we’ll be able to offer an in-person memorial service once again,” said Lisa Morgensai, Bereavement Coordinator. “Gathering together to honor loved ones will be a blessing after Covid.” 

The nondenominational memorial service allows families and friends to gather in remembrance of loved ones cared for by Oaklawn Hospice.

To ensure that a loved one’s name is included in the program, participants are asked to contact Morgensai by March 4 at lmorgensai@oaklawnhospital.com, or call (269) 789-3939 x 3118. Additionally, a photograph of a loved one may be emailed to Morgensai for display at the time the person’s name is read.

“All are welcome to attend, no matter how much time has lapsed since the loved one’s passing, and guests are encouraged to light a candle in memory of their loved one,” said Morgensai.

The memorial service will last about an hour and will feature music, readings of tributes, and poetry submitted by family members in memory of loved ones, as well as a reading of the names of loved ones being honored. Light refreshments will be served after the ceremony. Parking will be available in the church’s parking lot.

“Participating in this meaningful ritual is just one way that we can mourn our loved ones,” Morgensai said. “There is benefit to mourning and not just grieving our losses. Our grief experiences can be held inside and not expressed. Mourning allows us to take some of that grief and express it outside of ourselves in meaningful ways.”

It’s not unusual for participants to write letters to Oaklawn expressing their gratitude for the memorial service. One attendee said they found the service to be “deeply respectful of those who have passed and of us who mourn them.”

Oaklawn Hospice works to meet the physical, emotional, spiritual and social needs of persons with life-limiting conditions and their families. Bereavement services include the annual memorial, monthly bereavement support mailings, grief support groups, monthly lunch group, and a lending library featuring grief support books.

Oaklawn Hospice’s bereavement services are available, free of charge, for at least 13 months after the death of a loved one.