Remembrance Tree Ceremony 2022

QUICK FACTS: 

• What: The 2022 Remembrance Tree Ceremony 
• When: Sunday, Dec. 4, 2:00 PM EST 
• Where: Virtually and Live via the Hospice Care Plus Facebook Page 
  

  The 2022 Remembrance Tree Ceremony Memorial Ornament

• Why? Whether your loss was recent or not, the holidays are a time when those we’ve lost are especially missed. 
• Who? All are welcome to participate, regardless of whether we cared for your loved one. 

• What Does the Ceremony Involve? The Remembrance Tree memorial ceremony includes the reading of memorial names broken up in sections, placing of memorial ornaments on the Remembrance Tree as names are read, a memorial slideshow, special music, and readings.  
• Is the Event on Facebook? Yes. You can find the 2022 Remembrance Tree Ceremony on Facebook. The ceremony will be broadcast live on the Remembrance Tree Facebook event page on December 4 at 2 PM.  
• Do I need a Facebook account to attend / view the live event? No. Our Facebook page is public, so you can view the ceremony without an account. An account is only necessary if you wish to participate by adding comments. 

HOW DO I PARTICIPATE? 

• Request your ornament(s) by November 30 to have your loved one’s name read in alphabetical order during the ceremony. If you request your ornament after Nov. 30, your loved one’s name will still be read aloud, but it will come at the end of the reading of names. 
• Send a photo of your loved one by Nov. 30 if you wish to participate in the memorial slideshow. To include a photo of your loved one in our memorial slideshow, email a photo with their first and last names to development@hospicecp.org or mail a copy to 208 Kidd Drive, Berea, KY 40403. Please note: We cannot return photos that are mailed and are unable to accept photo submissions after Nov. 30. 
• Visit the Remembrance Tree Event Page on Facebook and indicate that you will attend. This enables you to receive updates, including a notification when the event goes live (if you have a Facebook account). If you do not have a Facebook account, you will not receive a notification from Facebook, but you can still view the event by visiting the link at 2 PM on Dec. 4.
• Visit the Hospice Care Plus Facebook page on Sunday, Dec. 4, to view the live event. The live broadcast should appear on both the Remembrance Tree Event Page and our main Hospice Care Plus Facebook page.  
  

  Reserve your ornament on our secure site.

• Join in during the ceremony by using comments (if you have a Facebook account) and follow along with our program. When your loved one’s name is read, you are welcome to type their name, a message, or a favorite memory in the comments. 
• Claim your memorial ornament(s) after the ceremony.  You will find directions, dates, and times on our secure Remembrance Tree site.  

Remembrance Tree Ceremony 2022

One of the community’s most beloved holiday traditions is the annual Remembrance Tree Ceremony. For decades, hundreds have gathered on the first Sunday in December to remember loved ones who are deeply missed when families gather during the holiday season.  

The 2022 ceremony will be broadcast live and virtually on Sunday, December 4, at 2 p.m. on the Remembrance Tree Ceremony 2022 Facebook page. A Facebook account is not required to participate.  

Anyone can request a memorial ornament. There is no fee for ornaments, but a donation of any size is encouraged. Proceeds from the ceremony cover the cost of ornaments and help fund all programs offered by Hospice Care Plus. Details on how to request memorial ornaments or participate in the optional memorial slideshow are available online. 

Lisa Knicely, director of Hospice’s bereavement program, says families are still coping with grief that was made more challenging by the pandemic. 

“A lot of people have had a loss that they had to go through without the typical supports,” says Lisa. “They may not have had the chance to mourn together with family and friends, or to participate in the rituals that help us say goodbye. That can make the holidays more challenging. The Remembrance Tree, as a ritual and a ceremony, can help.” 

Hospice Care Plus sponsors the Remembrance Tree Ceremony as part of its bereavement program, which provides grief support services to the community. The ceremony incudes special readings and music, the reading of memorial names, and the placing of ornaments on the Remembrance Tree by Hospice staff as names are read. Guests who participate virtually are invited to use Facebook comments to type their loved one’s name as it is read or to share a favorite memory. 

“As a new CEO at Hospice, I am so proud to be part of this event,” says Lisa Cox, who was named CEO in June. “It has become such an important tradition for the community, one that meets a need and gives families a space for their grief during the holidays.” 

Many collect Remembrance Tree ornaments and display them on their own trees during the holidays. The ornament changes each year. The 2022 ornament is a rustic wood-slice featuring a cardinal and snowflakes. 

To learn more, request an ornament, and submit a photograph for the ceremony’s memorial slideshow, visit the Remembrance Tree online. For questions, contact Hospice Care Plus at 859-986-1500 or hospice@hospicecp.org 

After the ceremony, guests may claim their ornaments on one of five dates in December. Details for ornament pick-up are also available at the Remembrance Tree website. 

Hospice Care Plus was founded as a non-profit organization to support the quality of life of its communities through hospice, palliative, and bereavement care programs. The organization serves Estill, Jackson, Lee, Madison, Owsley and Rockcastle counties and owns and operates the Compassionate Care Center in Richmond. Relying on contributions from individuals and groups, all care is provided regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. Make a gift, explore career and volunteer opportunities, or call 859-986-1500 to learn more.