As a staff chaplain I knew that it was not enough. Over a long period I became convinced that we, as the Department of Pastoral Care and the hospital as a whole, could and should do more for the families of those who passed while under our care. I never doubted that we offered quality care to our families right before and during their loved one’s death. But there had to be more that we could do for our community in the midst of their bereavement.
From these musings the idea of a memorial service emerged. My director and I began to meet regularly to dream, plan, and ask the “what if” question. Slowly we realized that what we, what our staff, and what our families needed was a quarterly memorial service. What better way to tend to the life changing grief of our staff and families than to bring them together for a time of remembering, weeping, and retelling the stories of life? We decided to put action to our words and scheduled the first hospital-wide memorial service on the evening of February 28, 2008. On this evening we honored those who passed while in our hospital during October, November, or December 2007.
From that first service our families have consistently communicated to us that we are on to a good thing. Every time we mail our invitations at least one family will call from out of state telling us they can not attend but thanking us for thinking of them. Following each service we have a reception. These have turned into times of blessings for everyone involved. Families thank the staff for taking care of their loved one. Staff members are allowed to catch up on how the families are holding up. And everyone experiences the sweet balm that only those who walk together in the valley of sorrow will ever be privileged to embrace.
It has been a lot of work to plan and organize this event. The reward of joining together as we reach out to our families, however, easily makes all our efforts worthy of our labor. Our quarterly memorial service has truly becoming a living tableau of individuals caring for individuals together.
- Chaplain Carey M. Reynolds
From these musings the idea of a memorial service emerged. My director and I began to meet regularly to dream, plan, and ask the “what if” question. Slowly we realized that what we, what our staff, and what our families needed was a quarterly memorial service. What better way to tend to the life changing grief of our staff and families than to bring them together for a time of remembering, weeping, and retelling the stories of life? We decided to put action to our words and scheduled the first hospital-wide memorial service on the evening of February 28, 2008. On this evening we honored those who passed while in our hospital during October, November, or December 2007.
From that first service our families have consistently communicated to us that we are on to a good thing. Every time we mail our invitations at least one family will call from out of state telling us they can not attend but thanking us for thinking of them. Following each service we have a reception. These have turned into times of blessings for everyone involved. Families thank the staff for taking care of their loved one. Staff members are allowed to catch up on how the families are holding up. And everyone experiences the sweet balm that only those who walk together in the valley of sorrow will ever be privileged to embrace.
It has been a lot of work to plan and organize this event. The reward of joining together as we reach out to our families, however, easily makes all our efforts worthy of our labor. Our quarterly memorial service has truly becoming a living tableau of individuals caring for individuals together.
- Chaplain Carey M. Reynolds
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