Concordia Butterfly Releases Create Moments of Hope and Connection

Throughout August, hundreds of family members, friends and community members gathered at three Concordia hospice butterfly releases to honor and remember loved ones.

Concordia-IRMC VNA hosted its annual Hope Takes Flight event at Mack Park in Indiana, Pa., on Aug. 2. Good Samaritan Hospice welcomed guests to Succop Park in Butler, Pa., on Aug. 9 and Concordia Hospice of Washington gathered at Valley View Farms in Waynesburg, Pa., on Aug. 23.

The annual butterfly releases are among the many bereavement support services offered by Concordia’s hospice agencies to help patients’ families and friends navigate grief as they adjust to loss. Each event provided a meaningful setting for reflection, remembrance and connection through prayers, readings, inspirational music and the shared release of butterflies.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended or helped make these gatherings so meaningful. We are especially grateful for our hospice staff and volunteers, spiritual care and bereavement teams, musicians, readers, event committees and community partners. Most importantly, we thank the families who have welcomed Concordia’s staff and volunteers into their homes and lives during difficult times.

We also gratefully recognize the sponsors and community friends whose generosity helped make each butterfly release possible.

Concordia-IRMC VNA Hope Takes Flight Sponsors and Special Thanks

Angel Wing Sponsors

• Indiana Regional Medical Center
• Concordia Community Support Services
• The Reschini Group

Monarch Event Sponsors

• Joseph and Nancy Grillo
• Mary Lewandowski
• Oak Grove Realty

Red Admiral Event Sponsors

• Dr. and Mrs. Alex B. Juhasz
• Diamond Drugs, Inc. — T-Shirt Sponsor
• Homer City American Legion
• Indiana Fraternal Order of Eagles #1468
• Indiana Fraternal Order of Eagles #1468 Ladies Auxiliary
• Indiana Moose Lodge #174
• Mark Arbuckle Nissan
• Robindale Energy Services, Inc.

Special Thanks

• Dale Oxygen, Inc.
• Pastor Greg and Lori Parks
• Musser Forests, Inc.
• Teresa Richardson
• Terry Sabo
• Twolick Valley Nursery and Gift Shoppe
• Concordia-IRMC VNA Staff and Hospice Volunteers

Good Samaritan Hospice Butterfly Release Sponsors and Special Thanks

Program Sponsor

• Concordia Visiting Nurses

Patron Sponsor

• Jean B. Purvis Community Health Center

Refreshment Sponsor

• Gordon Food Services

Special Thanks

• Matt Kearns
• Matthew Nocera
• Nicole Thompson
• Good Samaritan Hospice Staff and Volunteers

Concordia Hospice of Washington Butterfly Release Sponsors and Special Thanks

Gold Sponsors

• Anonymous Donors

Event Sponsor

• Valley View Farms

Silver Sponsor

• Concordia Visiting Nurses

Bronze Sponsor

• Ryco, Inc.
• BeeGraphix

Patron Sponsors

• Slovenian Savings & Loan Association of Canonsburg
• First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Greene County
• Rupert Tax & Advisory Services LLC

Special Thanks

• Valley View Farms
• Julia Richmond
• Mallory Brozovich
• Tanisha Bowman
• Brittany Blair
• Brad Wilson
• American Legion Honor Guard
• Concordia Hospice of Washington Butterfly Release Event Committee and Volunteers

Check out the photos in the gallery below (click to enlarge), and follow Concordia Home and Community Services on Facebook and Instagram for more content and updates! For information about upcoming activities across Concordia, visit the Events page of our website.

---

Founded in 1881, Concordia Lutheran Ministries is a faith-based, CARF-accredited Aging Services Network and recipient of the inaugural Pennsylvania Department of Aging Excellence in Quality Care Award. As one of the largest nonprofit senior care providers in the country, the organization serves 50,000 people annually through in-home care and inpatient locations. Concordia offers a lifetime continuum of care that includes adult day services, home health care, hospice, physician and rehabilitation services, memory care, personal care, assisted living, respite care, retirement living, skilled nursing/short-term rehab, spiritual care and medical equipment.