NEWS RELEASE
MARIPOSA HOUSE HOSPICE
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On the evening of Thursday, Sept. 29, family and friends gathered outside in the tranquil gardens at Mariposa House Hospice (MHH) for a candlelit memorial to honour their loved ones who have died at MHH since April 2022.
The name of each resident who passed away during this period was read aloud by one of the hospice nurses, Emily Charlton. When their loved one’s name was read, a family member or friend came forward to receive a candle lantern and then held it throughout the ceremony. If family or friends were not present, the person’s lantern was placed on the circular garden wall as dusk settled over the hospice grounds, with a crescent moon setting not long after the sun went down.
Twice a year, the staff and volunteers of Mariposa House Hospice invite the loved ones of previous residents to gather for this quiet and intimate ceremony to offer support and give hope to those who have recently experienced loss.
The vision of MHH is to “honour every moment of life,” which includes reaching out to family members after their loved one has died. In addition to attending this memorial event, family and friends are invited to visit the hospice anytime to walk the pathways, sit on the garden deck, and chat with staff or volunteers. This helps them stay connected to the place their loved one called home briefly.
“Family and friends of our residents often share with us that they are deeply appreciative of the care they receive while staying at Mariposa House,” shared Annalise Stenekes, executive director at MHH. “This memorial gathering allows all of the families and friends, as well as our staff and volunteers, to pause and reflect.
"We have all been impacted by each individual who stayed at MHH. We had different relationships with each person and for different lengths of time, but it means a lot for us to honour and grieve these losses together," said Stenekes.
Approximately 110 people attended the Sept. 29 event and left their lanterns glowing in the gardens surrounded by beautiful woods, landscaped gardens and brick pathways with engraved names and meaningful sentiments upon them.
Since opening in February 2021, the MHH team has cared for 190 residents and approximately 950 loved ones who are now, forever, a part of the hospice family. The team offers sincere condolences to all past residents’ families; you will always be a part of our extended family.
A recent family shared the following note with the staff and volunteer team: “Thank you for providing such compassionate, loving care to our beloved husband/father in the last weeks of his life. You worked tirelessly to ensure that he was treated with kindness, gentleness, and dignity."
Services at Mariposa House Hospice are provided at no cost to our residents and their families and are partially funded by the province of Ontario. Approximately $800,000 is fundraised annually for the ongoing operations.
To make an ongoing pledge or donation to Mariposa House Hospice, please contact Lynn Thomas, donor relations coordinator, at [email protected] or 705-558-2888, ext. 208, Wednesday to Friday.
To become a member of our Butterfly Club, go to this website and click on 'Become a Butterfly.'
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