Calvert Hospice and Chesapeake Highlands Memorial Gardens recently hosted a fall memorial butterfly release. Against the backdrop a perfect blue sky, nearly 130 attendees gathered to release 78 monarch butterflies to celebrate loved ones who have passed and to reflect on their own emotional and spiritual journey through grief.
“We knew we wanted to have an event to honor loved ones that was unique and thought how wonderful it would be if we could partner with a local non-profit. Since we’ve been a longtime supporter of Calvert Hospice, the idea of us working together made perfect sense. Our heartfelt desire for you today is that when you release your butterfly, you also release pain and in return gain hope.” stated Marcianna Kreamer, General Manager for Chesapeake Highlands Memorial Gardens, in her opening remarks.
Brenda Laughhunn, Executive Director for Calvert Hospice, shared that Calvert Hospice was grateful to partner with community members like Marcianna Kreamer and her caring team at Chesapeake Highlands Memorial Gardens. “We can multiply our capacity for good when we join together.” stated Brenda. She shared how Calvert Hospice’s Bereavement Programs and the Burnett Calvert Hospice House are open to any Calvert County resident and rely solely on the generosity of the community to keep both available because the organization does not receive any direct financial reimbursement to cover the cost of these essential programs.
“Calvert Hospice is dedicated to supporting these kinds of events as they advance our commitment to deliver the best care possible, rooted in a philosophy of help, hope and healing throughout every moment of life, including our very last ones.” Brenda affirmed
Linzy Laughhunn, Calvert Hospice Chaplain, shared in a brief reflection “That grieving is an ongoing journey as individual as each relationship to that person is unique.” He went on to invite those gathered to, “See the butterfly as a symbol of how lives change and are transformed. Even as we see the butterfly transition from egg to chrysalis; it is this final stage that is most striking and memorable, that of the winged butterfly in its full expression of freedom in flight and beauty.”
Linzy stated that gatherings such as the memorial butterfly release, “Grant us an opportunity to share that same hope, that our most beautiful moments may still lie ahead of us, and that we can best honor those we have loved and lost by making the choice to cherish what is truly important and letting go of what hinders us from enjoying life.”
The butterfly release also involved opportunities for participation in several symbolic reflections using stones, rose petals and a symbolic “Wall of Memory” all while beautiful dulcimer music was provided by Calvert Hospice nurse Susan Hood and her husband.
For more information about Calvert Hospice and/or their Bereavement Programs, please visit calverthospice.org, email information@calverthospice.org or call 410-535-0892.
