TRC holds first “Celebration of Life”

From left, Cathy Smith, Hospice Chaplain, poses with organizers of the Celebration of Life: Cherie Ohls, Nurse Manager; Terry Long, Nurse Manager; Jody Sigmund; Paula Pickett, Dietitian; Jessica Smith, Quality Management Specialist; and Can Tenamore from the Information Technology Department.

Individuals living in TRC homes who passed away during the past two years were remembered January 27 when TRC held its first Celebration of Life.

Some 150 people came to the Conference Center on Dunham Avenue to pay tribute to the 16 individuals and then celebrate their lives by dancing to the sounds of a DJ.

Jocelyn Monaco and Jodi Sigmund find room on the dance floor to move to the music.

The 16 individuals who were remembered were:

John Beaver
Loretta Babcock
Gloria Chapman
Edna Grodecki
Frederick Hanse
Alice Hough
Ray Lucas
Robert Manning
Joann McLaren
Teddy Phillips
Roberto Rodriguez
Linda Smith
Roy Thelander
Russell Triscari
Rose Valvo,
James Whitehill

Photos and some biographical information about the 16 individuals  were on display on the stage.  Then, as each individual's name was read, staff placed a flameless candle on a table at the front of the room.

"Welcome to the first annual Celebration of Life!" said Jodi Sigmund, Nurse Manager, one of the employees who organized the event.  "We have decided to celebrate the lives that we have worked with, grown from and fallen in love with."

She introduced Cathy Smith, Chaplain with Hospice of Chautauqua County, who read a poem by Amanda Bradley titled "Love Lives On":

Those we love are never really lost to us
we feel them in so many special ways
through friends they always cared about
and dreams they left behind,
in beauty that they added to our days
in words of wisdom we still carry with us
and memories that never will be gone.
Those we love
are never really lost to us
for everywhere their special love lives on.

"The common thread between our folks that we have lost is their love of music," Jodi said.  "So, let's celebrate!"

And with that, the DJs from Bair Music, who provide the music for TRC's monthly Friday night dances, began playing music.  People spent the rest of the evening dancing and socializing.