Hospice East Rand hosts candle ceremony
If you missed the ceremony, you can watch it on https://youtu.be/0yXZAPLmL1s or view it on their Facebook page.
Hospice East Rand aired its Candles of Remembrance in a virtual ceremony on December 4.
According to the NPO’s marketing and media liaison officer Jonquil Siepman, it was a gathering of community members to reflect on the year, remember family and friends who have passed away and celebrate their lives. The guest speaker Reverend Hilton Volkwyn, shared a moving message about living fully and dying well.
The guests were treated to the soothing sounds of Chesney Foster who sang Scars in Heaven while Michelle and Amanda Wang performed an instrumental piece which reflected on the message of the day. Sister Tracy Scholefield read a poem titled I miss you.
Nursing sisters, care workers, social workers and other staff members stood together to light candles in remembrance of patients, family and friends lost this year and years before.
“Burning a candle is symbolic. It ensures that the memory of loved ones still lives on and burns bright. It was both moving and calming watching all the candles burning brightly together,” said Siepman.
In his message, the Hospice’s chairperson Con Roux shared the financial struggles the NPO has been experiencing for the last three years due to the pandemic. He highlighted the NPO’s gratitude to people for supporting them through donations, which were resold at their charity shops. He also thanked the community for purchasing items at their charity shops as this accounts for 63% of their income generated. Roux also highlighted the role that corporate donations and bequests have played.
“Despite our financial challenges, we still rise to support and care for those with life-limiting illnesses. Our palliative care team provided home-based care with 5 639 patient visits to 464 patients and their families within our East Rand community,” Roux said.
The Hospice thanked all those who participated in the event.
If you missed the ceremony, watch it at https://youtu.be/0yXZAPLmL1s or view it on their Facebook page.
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