Grand Rapids, Michigan, Nov. 1, 2024 – Emmanuel Hospice and Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids have partnered to offer a free memorial service on Wednesday, Nov. 13 for community members who have experienced the loss of a loved one.
The Community Memorial Service will be held from 6-7:15 p.m. at Gilda’s Club, 1806 Bridge St. NW. Guests are also welcome to attend a free community dinner at Gilda’s beforehand, including pizza and a salad bar served at 5:15 p.m.
The all-ages event will provide the opportunity to process grief and remember loved ones with live music and activities for both individual reflection and group support in a shared and comforting space. The event is free and open to anyone in the community experiencing grief.
“Offering free emotional health support for anyone on a grief journey of any kind is central to our mission at Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids,” Gilda’s Club Vice President of Program Clare Portinga said. “This time of year can be especially difficult in anticipation of the holidays and seasonal changes that can be triggering for those experiencing a loss.
“We are honored to partner with Emmanuel Hospice to offer this opportunity for any one seeking reflection, connection and support as we come together to celebrate the lives of our loved ones and their legacies.”
The hour-long service will include speakers and readings from both Gilda’s Club and Emmanuel Hospice, as well as individual community members who will share their experiences.
Live music will be provided by Emmanuel Hospice Music Therapist Miranda Eden and the Grand Rapids Threshold Choir, a singing group that brings comfort through song to the bedsides of those on the thresholds of life and death.
Additionally, there will be a candle lighting and a brief writing exercise for self reflection. Guests are encouraged to bring a photo of their loved one to be displayed at the remembrance table for the evening.
“This memorial service promises to be a heartfelt gathering where we come together as a community to honor and remember those we have lost,” Emmanuel Hospice Bereavement Coordinator Katie Mayberry said. “This special event is designed to support and uplift those navigating their grief journey, offering a space for reflection, connection and shared remembrance.
“Whether you are introspective or extroverted, we’ve organized this event so everyone can participate in whatever way they are comfortable within a shared space.”
Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP online by Nov. 6.
Emmanuel Hospice and Gilda’s Club partner year-round to serve as mutual community resources for grief support. The organizations collaborate on other grief support events and regularly refer individuals for each other’s services.
About Emmanuel Hospice
Emmanuel Hospice is an interfaith provider of compassionate, person-centered hospice care to patients and their loved ones in West Michigan. Serving the community since 2013, the nonprofit draws on a team approach that focuses holistically on mind, body and spirit, working to enhance each patient’s life with a combination of expert medical care, spiritual counseling and complementary therapies and services – because hospice is more about living than dying. Emmanuel Hospice has expanded to serve all of Kent and Ottawa counties and portions of Allegan, Barry, Newaygo, Ionia, Montcalm and Muskegon counties. For more information, visit EmmanuelHospice.org.
About Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids
Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids provides free emotional healthcare to children, adults, families and friends on any kind of cancer journey or those grieving the death of someone in their life due to any cause. Its comprehensive program, delivered by licensed mental health professionals, meets individuals where they are, when they need it, with a variety of social and emotional support options to choose from, including support groups, educational opportunities as well as healthy lifestyle and social activities.
Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids runs entirely on charitable donations and currently provides in-person, virtual and hybrid support options through its clubhouses in Grand Rapids and Lowell, Mich., and community programs in various schools and community centers. An affiliate of the Cancer Support Community – the largest professionally led nonprofit network of cancer support worldwide, Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids is independently owned and locally operated. At Gilda’s we help ensure no one has to navigate cancer or grief on their own. For more information, visit gildasclubgr.org.