The Tree of Life has been gracing the Angela Hospice grounds for years, and while it is now an annual tradition for some families, each year there are families experiencing it for the first time.
Shalyn Fuller attended with her family for the first time last year. It was a way to honor her brother, who had passed away suddenly when he was just 31 years old.
“It was such a beautiful event,” Shalyn said. “We celebrated my brother, and I made an ornament for my grandmother and great-grandmother as well.”
Shalyn’s brother had died just days before she was scheduled to complete her volunteer training at Angela Hospice. And since starting her volunteer journey, she’s found opportunities for healing, such as the Tree of Life, and volunteering at Camp Monarch, which her niece attended as well.
“It was great for my niece to be around other peers who have lost a parent, and celebrate my brother in a way that wasn’t too draining for her,” Shalyn said.
For Shalyn’s part, she’s been volunteering as a “flower bud” in the Angela Hospice Care Center, preparing flower arrangements that bring cheer to patients and their families.
“That’s helped me a lot processing my grief,” she said. “It’s been very therapeutic.”
Events like the Tree of Life can be therapeutic too, allowing families the opportunity to celebrate their loved ones who are now gone, honoring their memory, and affirming the love that will always remain.
This year’s Tree of Life opening ceremony on Saturday, November 16, 10 a.m., will include a performance by the Angela Hospice Choir, visit from Santa, hot cocoa bar, and the opportunity to personalize angels in honor of your loved ones. To RSVP and to learn more about the Tree of Life, visit our event page.
THE TREE OF LIFE WILL REMAIN ON DISPLAY ON THE GROUNDS OF ANGELA HOSPICE IN LIVONIA THROUGH JANUARY 2.
