Thanksgiving and Christmas can be rough after losing a son, daughter, grandchild or other loved one.
“The holidays are never the same because you’re always missing that person,” said Washington resident Mary Rose Jones, who lost her son, Andy, in a car accident almost three years ago.
She and her husband, Cecil, have been active in an Evansville chapter of a support group for bereaved parents, The Compassionate Friends. They are helping organize a memorial candlelighting and hope to start another chapter of The Compassionate Friends in Washington.
The eighth annual Children’s Memorial Candlelighting Service will be held at 3 p.m. Central time Sunday at the Children’s Angel Monument at the Vanderburgh County 4-H Center north of Evansville, just west of the intersection of U.S. 41 and Booneville-New Harmony Road.
“Since we lost Andy, this is our way of celebrating Christmas and remembering Andy,” said Mary Rose of the candlelighting ceremony.
She and Cecil invite other area families who have lost loved ones to come to the ceremony, which is meant to provide a moment of peace and remembrance away from the mainstream Christmas celebration.
It will start at the Angel Monument with a candlelighting and bagpipe music, then move to the Activities Building. If case of inclement weather, all of the ceremony will be held in the Activities Building.
“Around the holidays, people don’t want to talk about your child, but you need to talk about your child (to heal),” said Cecil. “You can walk away and feel you’ve had some connection with your child.”
The Jonses suggest those attending bring a photo of their child for the display and a flower to place on the monument.
Beyond the candlelighting ceremony, the Joneses hope to provide continued support for area parents who have lost children by starting a local support group for bereaved parents.
They have set their first meeting for the afternoon of Jan. 13 at the Fraternal Order of Police cabin, but they still need more leadership support for the group and they don’t know how many are interested in attending.
Whether the group is sponsored by The Compassionate Friends or not, the Joneses want to make sure someone will be there to lead when they can’t.
The Joneses stress that the support group is not religious; it’s meant to help anyone of any faith work through the grief of losing a child.
It’s also strictly confidential so that grieving parents can feel more free to talk about their emotions. The group does not provide professional support but allows parents to work through their grief by talking to others who are feeling the same things.
“We don’t have all the answers,” said Mary Rose. “But by talking, people help themselves.”
“It’s hard to go, but it’s also relaxing to go because you’re helping other people,” said Cecil, adding that the Evansville support group helped him work through his angry feelings after the death of his son.
Local News
Bereaved parents find comfort in ‘Compassionate Friends’ group
- Local News
-
-
Hill arrested on $100K bond
Andrew Logan Hill, 32, Washington, was arrested by sheriff’s deputies on a warrant for petition to revoke a suspended sentence. He remains in the Daviess County Security Center on a $100,000 bond.
-
Cemetery owners plead for time, help
For nearly a century and a half, Daviess County folks have been laid to rest in Oak Grove Cemetery at the west edge of Washington, but in recent years maintenance of the 23-acre property has declined and people are no longer wanting to bury family members there.
-
Washington High School to graduate 167 Saturday
Washington High School will hold its 135th Commencement Exercises at 2 p.m. today in the high school gymnasium.
-
WC to graduate
Washington Catholic High School Commencement Exercises will be held at 8 p.m. today at the Bird Cage.
-
PC to graduate
PETERSBURG — Pike Central High School will hold its 37th Commencement Exercises at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the high school gymnasium.
-
ND commencement is Friday evening
North Daviess High School will hold it commencement exercises at 7 p.m. Friday.
Following the processional led by North Daviess faculty and juniors Janice Knepp and Cari Jo Wilson, the voluntary invocation will be led by Chelsea Graber. Stacey Beard, class president, will then make welcoming and introductory remarks. -
Fire destroys home in minutes
A Tuesday afternoon fire in rural Daviess County has left a family homeless, although unharmed.
-
Barr-Reeve holds 47th commencement Saturday
Barr-Reeve High School will hold its 47th Commencement Exercises on Saturday afternoon in the high school gymnasium beginning at 2 p.m. Again this year, the graduation will be an afternoon affair.
-
Loogootee to hold graduation Friday
Loogootee Junior/Senior High School Class of 2012 will hold its graduation exercises at 7 p.m. Friday.
-
ND finds ways to use cell phones
A lengthy discussion between North Daviess school board and administrative members concerning future student cell phone usage dominated the board’s Monday meeting.
Board members were considering a second reading for the school’s junior and senior high school handbooks when the discussion began. - More Local News Headlines
-
Hill arrested on $100K bond
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
