Ryan Ostry
Bugle Reporter
@RyanOstry_BR18
rostry@buglenewspapers.com
Last Wednesday at the Rialto Theatre in Joliet, the Lights of Love Memorial Tribute and Tree Lighting Ceremony took place honoring those who have lost love ones.
Hosted by the Joliet Area Community Hospice, hundreds of grieving family and friends came to celebrate their loved ones, honoring the wonderful lives they lived, while affecting those around them.
Families who wanted to participate in the ceremony bought ornaments and tickets to the Rialto, with the phrase ‘Remember with Love’ on the symbolic ornament that was hung on the tree.
“It’s the beginning of the holiday season and people just want to remember their loved ones,” said Mary Ann Burns, Director of Bereavement services. “Tonight is the night where they get to remember them and talk about them and honor their lives.”
The ceremony concluded its 13th year remembering those who have been lost, with Burns also attributing this healing hand to the music therapists who play while the families walked on stage hanging up their ornaments.
“There are tears, but there is laughter too because the most that’s the most important part of bereavement,” Burns said. “These people lived, and we get to honor them and rejoice in all of their names.”
After the ornament hanging was concluded, the poem ‘For That I Am Thankful” was recited, followed by a memorial video tribute and a musical tribute.
“For families facing their first holidays without their loved ones, it’s a great way to come together to be there for one another,” said Patrice Martin, Bereavement Manager. “Everyone is integrated and helping each other through this.”
One thing that has resonated with Burns is that she can relate to the families who participated in the ceremony, because she as well has experienced loss in her life.
“My husband died around four years ago and I have family members who also have come together to celebrate him tonight,” Burns said.
For local participant Robert Kirk, attending the ceremony meant he could celebrate the passing of his loved one, while still celebrating his loved ones that he has around him.
“My mother-in-law passed away just this past August, so it has been hard but we wanted to be here tonight especially with the holidays around the corner to celebrate a great person,” Kirk said. “Reflection and closure are the two things we we’ve truly come here for, and anytime you lose a loved one you have to find a reason what you were truly thankful for with them and the people you still have in your life.”
For another participant, Joe Gonzalez, he also said that the ceremony was highly important to him because of impact his mother-in-law and father-in-law had in his life, while thanking them for raising a wonderful daughter.
“My mother-in-law and father-in-law gave me unconditional love and accepted me in their family, while raising a wonderful daughter and always making me like part of the family,” Gonzalez said. “It has really given us a chance to slow down in everyday life and honor them and remember who they were, while cherishing the moments we had to spend with them.”