MercyOne North Iowa Hospice Tree of Life program provides hope in grief

Trees throughout MercyOne North Iowa Hospice’s coverage area show a bright message that hope and light exist in times of grief.

Last Wednesday, North Iowa Hospice hosted a Tree of Life ceremony at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Hampton, one of nine of such programs throughout MercyOne’s area.

Autumn Hawver, bereavement coordinator with MercyOne North Iowa Hospice, said the program helps grieving families cope with loss and reflect on the life of a lost loved one during the holiday season, which can be a difficult time for many in such a situation.

“The premise is this is for anyone that’s grieving, in the darkness of grief and death and the lighting gives families hope during the holidays,” she said. “This helps them cope with holidays through grief and self care and give them a place to reflect and remember.”

The ceremony included scripture readings, musical selections and culminated in the reading of names of loved ones who have passed. Prior to the reading of names, the tree was lit, illuminating the room in a bright, white light. Hawver said the lights on the tree represent that sense of peace and hope that can be hard to find in times of grief.

“Even in the darkness of grief and feeling alone, the light of the tree brings hope knowing you’ll survive it,” she said.

North Iowa Hospice has been providing the Tree of Life program throughout the area for more than 25 years. Hawver said that each year, new people reach out with a named of a loved one they would like included in their respective ceremony but many people include the same name year after year. She said no matter new or familiar to the program, the reading of the name gives people comfort, affirmation and a sense of remembrance.

“Everyone is going to grieve,” she said. “Lighting the tree and reading their name…it’s that affirmation and remembering that are part of the whole grief journey.”

Hawver said the Tree of Life ceremonies are not only powerful for loved ones who are in the grieving stage but can also be emotional for the North Iowa Hospice staff who have worked with some of the families through the process.

“It’s hard to put into words,” she said. “You look out there and you see those faces and living in small town Iowa, you know their stories.”