Over 750 Attend Concordia Memorial Butterfly Releases

During the month of August, our hospice agencies hosted three beautiful butterfly releases in memoriam of those who have gone before us. Concordia-IRMC VNA’s annual Hope Takes Flight release was held at Mack Park in Indiana, Pa., on Aug. 6; Good Samaritan Hospice welcomed attendees to Cranberry Township Community Park on Aug. 20; and, on Aug. 26, Concordia Hospice of Washington held its event at Valley View Farms in Waynesburg, Pa.

The butterfly has long been a symbol of hope for people around the world. The caterpillar disappears into a cocoon, appearing dead to all around. Later, it emerges, having transformed into something more beautiful and powerful than it was. Early Christians adopted the butterfly as a symbol of resurrection, of Easter joy. The creature reminds us of its Creator, who sent His Son into unassuming human flesh, who died and was buried in a tomb, who rose again, and who promises life to all who trust in Him. The butterfly is a natural testimony to us of Jesus’ words, “Because I live, you shall also live.” (John 14:19b)

Our annual butterfly releases represent some of the many bereavement support services our hospice agencies have designed to guide the patient’s family and friends through the challenges of grief as they adjust to loss. In addition to the release of the butterflies, attendees of the events found comfort in inspirational music, children’s activities, readings and prayers from our leadership and spiritual care teams, and dedications to those memorialized.

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended or assisted in making all of the events special and memorable. Special thanks go out to our volunteers, who make every event that much more welcoming, and all of the families who have allowed our staff and volunteers into their homes and into their lives during hard times. Lastly, a huge thank you to our sponsors and community friends for their generous support:

Concordia-IRMC VNA Butterfly Release Sponsors & Special Thanks  
• Partner Sponsor: Concordia Community Support Services
• Event Sponsor: Indiana Regional Medical Center
• Angel Wing Sponsor: The Reschini Group
• Monarch Sponsors: Joseph & Nancy Grillo, Norma Harmon and Mary Lewandowski
• Red Admiral Sponsors: Homer City American Legion, Indiana Moose Lodge 174, Dr. & Mrs. Alex B Juhasz, Klain, Heasley & Nettleton MD PC, Matthew Long, Mark Arbuckle Nissan, Oak Grove Realty and Dr. Timothy Wilson

Thank You: 
• Concordia-IRMC VNA Staff and Volunteers
• Faught’s Garden Center
• Hopeful Hearts Volunteers
• Musser Nursery
• Teresa Richardson
• Sophie & Gunnar Steen
• Twolick Valley Nursery and Gift Shoppe

Good Samaritan Hospice Butterfly Release Sponsors & Special Thanks
• Butterfly Sponsor: Martik Brothers, Inc.
• Patron Sponsors: D’Alessandro Funeral Home & Crematory, Ltd, Simons Funeral Home and Thomas M. Smith Funeral Home & Crematory, Ltd
• Registration Sponsor: Heritage Valley Health System
• Refreshment Sponsors: Gordon Food Services and Monteverde’s

Thank You:
• Good Samaritan Hospice Staff and Volunteers
• Matt Kearns
• Matthew Nocera
• Ashley Trott

Concordia Hospice of Washington Butterfly Release Sponsors & Special Thanks
• Gold Sponsors: Anonymous Donors (2) and Washington Health System• Event Sponsor: Valley View Farms• Silver Sponsors: Big Dog Energy, LLC, HydroEdge Solutions, Maloney & Associates and Pin Oak Energy Partners, LLC
• Bronze Sponsors: ECB Contracting, LLC, Karl & June Kimmich and Ryco, Inc.
• Patron Sponsors: John Greenlee and Associates Funeral Home, Jefferys Drug Store, Inc., The Jones Family, Meadow Ridge Development, LLC, Tri-State Neuropathy, Tryon Trucking and Washington Co. District Attorney, Jason M. Walsh

Thank You:
• Concordia Hospice of Washington Staff and Volunteers
• Rev. Ron Cox 
• Gearet FitzPatrick
• Pastor Linda Mankey
• Brad Wilson
• Valley View Farms

Check out the photos in the gallery below (click to enlarge), and if you have any pictures from the event, share them with us on Facebook and Instagram! For more information about what’s happening at 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 in western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and Tampa, Florida.