Remembering loved ones

EAST LIVERPOOL - The small group of people gathered outside the main entrance of East Liverpool City Hospital Sunday evening stood quietly as they waited to light their candles.

The silence was a part of East Liverpool's participation in the World Wide Candlelight Service, held at 7 p.m. Sunday across the globe as a way for parents and grandparents to remember their deceased children or grandchildren.

The ceremony has been held the second Sunday in December each year since the Compassionate Friends International group began the service approximately 30 years ago.

East Liverpool has participated for the past four years, led by the Broken Branch Support Group and group Grief Facilitator Judy Kidder.

"At each successive time zone, the candles are lit for one hour in memory of children that have died," Kidder said. "This is a unique thing in that you know the candlelight goes all the way around the world."

Each participant was encouraged to bring a picture of their lost loved one and a candle to light in memory of that person. As a part of the service, the candles are to remain lit for at least one hour, passing the light on to the next time zone.

Kidder stated that the hospital was chosen as the site for the service because some of the hospital staff have lost children and wanted to participate.

Kidder stated that many people who do not attend the Broken Branch Support Group meetings come to the service to remember their loved ones.

"It's just another way of participating and sharing," she said.

The group meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at the Dawson Family Center and is open to any parent or grandparent who has lost a child or grandchild.

For more information on the service or the group, contact Kidder at 330-385-8896.