The State News

The memories of lost loved ones will spark light Tuesday night by family and friends at the St. Johns Memorial Tree Lighting service.

At 7 p.m., former patients of the hospice community will be honored at the corner of Oakland and Sturgis streets. After the event, the Clinton Memorial Hospital cafeteria will serve refreshments.

The annual ceremony, which is nearly a decade old, was organized by Sparrow Health System and honors Sparrow Hospice Services and Clinton Home Hospice residents, drawing nearly 100 people each year.

Even though this year’s event will only add people who have died over the past year to its tree, everyone who has been in hospice will be in mind. More than 1,000 lights have accumulated over its history.

“It’s a way to offer support to families,” Barbara Henning said. Henning is the bereavement coordinator for Sparrow Hospice Services. She says many families have trouble dealing with a loss, especially around the holidays. As coordinator, Henning takes care of families before and after the death of their relatives.

The tree lighting will lead into National Hospice Month, which is November. During the month, hospice encourages people to light a candle each night in recognition and in support of the services it offers to the community.

Twelve MSU students are involved in Sparrow Hospice Services, Michelle Wiseman said. Wiseman, director of Sparrow Hospice Service, said the program is looking to add students as volunteers.

Hospice volunteers visit the terminally ill, help clean and take care of mail.

“A lot of people don’t understand what it is,” Wiseman said. “It’s difficult for people to step into hospice for the first time.”

She said she thinks the tree lighting ceremony will help people become aware of the positive aspects that hospice offers the community.

“It’s a wonderful bond for life with the families who had members involved in it,” she said.

Nearly 70 families took part in last year’s event, Henning said.

“Some people may not have had a memorial yet,” she said. “This may be their memorial. It’s also a time to reconnect with staff at the time of loss.”

The staff also wants to recruit fraternity and sorority members to help with the planning and implementation of its “Hike for Hospice” campaign. The event will take place in October 2002 and staff will begin planning next week, Wiseman said.

Students looking to volunteer with hospice can call (517)267-2050.