Hospice christens new memorial tree
Bill Robinson, left, co-owner of Robinson Brothers Tree Farm, guides a tree planting operation Wednesday in front of Kalispell Regional Medical Center. Hospice social worker Ron Eliason, center, and Home Options manager Judy Graham watch as the 13-foot blue spruce is lowered into place to anchor a new memorial area on the west side of the hospital. The tree will soon become a memorial tree of lights for the holiday season to raise money for hospice. Jennifer DeMonte/Daily Inter Lake
By CANDACE CHASE
The Daily Inter Lake
Home Options Hospice in Kalispell christened a new memorial tree with the planting Wednesday of a 14-foot blue spruce.
Set by the west entrance of Kalispell Regional Medical Center, the tree will shine with hundreds of lights honoring relatives and friends who have died. The annual Tree of Lights event serves as a benefit for the end-of-life care provided by Hospice.
Judy Graham, manager of Home Options Hospice, explained the spruce replaces a smaller tree located in a less visible area of the medical center campus. The growing requests for memorial lights mandated a larger tree.
A formal ceremony marks the annual lighting of the tree.
"It's held on the first Tuesday in December," Graham said.
Located in front of the hospital, the tree will form the centerpiece of a memorial area including benches for people to use as they enjoy the tree and contemplate their loved one.
Joni Jenks, a volunteer and Tree of Lights coordinator, said she faced a difficult choice picking the perfect blue spruce. She was won over by the symmetry of the tree obtained from Alpine Sprinklers and Landscaping.
"It's very hard to find a tree that looks great from all sides," Jenks said.
About 1,000 memorial lights were purchased for the benefit last year. Hospice volunteers suggest donations of $10 or more for memorials, but accept less from those who can't afford that amount.
Once memorials are gathered, the symbolic tree lighting ceremony and reading of names takes place on Dec. 7 at the WestCoast Kalispell Center Hotel. The ceremony was moved inside a few years ago to handle the large crowds and avoid inclement weather.
The outdoor tree at the medical center stays stays lit through New Year's.
"This is our 15th year of the Tree of Lights," Jenks said.
She said the benefit provides a positive outlet for people facing holidays without their loved ones, especially for those with recent losses. Volunteers bring books of names from past trees, homemade cookies, coffee and punch.
Jenks described the ceremony as a mixture of joyful and touching moments as participants recall people loved and lost. This year's event features the music of the Montanaires.
Revenue raised through the memorial tree event goes toward patient care for uninsured people and for continuing education for the staff.
For more information, call Home Options Hospice at 751-4200.
Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com