Every September, three generations of Ogden women gather at the Walk of Remembrance to honor the people they loved most. Last year, the walk took on an even deeper meaning.
McKenzie Ogden has attended the Walk of Remembrance alongside her mother, Kelly, and grandmother, Clara, for many years. Together, they walked in memory of McKenzie’s aunt, Tracey, who passed away in 2007. After losing her daughter, Clara began searching for support and connection through Angela Hospice’s grief services, even though Tracey was not an Angela Hospice patient.
Clara with the recipient of one of her teddy bear projects.
Clara found comfort in Angela Hospice’s grief care programs and joined a quilting group, where she connected with others navigating loss. Inspired by the experience, she began creating memory bears from the clothing of loved ones for children who had lost a parent or grandparent. It was through these grief support services that she first learned about the Walk of Remembrance.
Since then, Clara has attended every year.
Over time, Kelly and McKenzie joined her, and the walk became a family tradition, an opportunity not only to grieve, but to celebrate the people they love.
“The Walk for me has been a great place to express grief, but also celebrate the lives of those we’ve loved and lost,” McKenzie shared.
Last year’s walk carried a different weight for the family. After a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, McKenzie lost her mother, Kelly, in 2024. For the first time, the family attended the Walk of Remembrance without Kelly, but in celebration of her life and memory.
Kelly Ogden
In honor of Kelly, the family formed a team for the first time, lovingly named “Kelly Ogden Strong.” What followed was an overwhelming outpouring of support from relatives and friends: cousins, siblings, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren all walking together in remembrance.
“It showed us how many people loved her and were impacted by her love,” McKenzie said.
For families like the Ogdens, the Walk of Remembrance offers a space where grief and joy can coexist. Whether honoring someone who received hospice care or simply seeking support after loss, participants find comfort in community and remembrance.
This year’s Walk of Remembrance will take place Saturday, September 19, 2026, on the beautiful Angela Hospice grounds in Livonia. This family-friendly event celebrates the lives of those we’ve loved and lost while supporting the compassionate, caring programs provided for hospice patients and their families.
For the Ogden family, the Walk of Remembrance has become a lasting reminder that no one has to walk alone in grief. As they return again this September, the Ogden family will continue a tradition that has helped them heal, remember, and feel supported through every season of grief.
