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Celebrate a life |
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 John
F. Tomczak is the author of Shared Knowledge - Dealing With
Bereavement.
John's passion is to make all Canadians
aware of how hospice societies can help
them and their loved ones at a time
of need.
John
has been recognized for his many
exemplary contributions as a board
member of Victoria Hospice Society and
the Independent Living Housing Society
as well as a founding member of Canada's
first bereavement self help group.
John is
the owner of
bereavement.ca
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Celebrate a Life
By John F. Tomczak
Every
year since 1987 Victoria Hospice Society, a few weeks
before Christmas provides a space in a mall where people
may come to remember a loved one.
The
space is decorated in the Christmas Spirit, volunteers
are there to provide assistance and those that wish are
encouraged to write a remembrance of a loved one and
place it on the Hospice Logo.
A book
of remembrance is provided and of course the messages
and words of remembrance are kept at Victoria
Hospice. Some people will make donations in memory of a
loved one but this event has never been seen as a
fundraiser.
As one
can imagine the volunteers have experienced some
wonderful, tender and heartfelt moments. I have chosen
one of these moments that somehow is at the essence of
what Celebrate a Life is all about.
One
evening in the Mayfair Mall two small children,
accompanied by a woman, came to the table. The little
girl was about six or seven and I guessed the little boy
to be about four. The children came closer but the
woman stayed back a bit.
The
little girl gave me some money and I helped her put it
in the donation box. I then asked her if she wished to
write in the Remembrance Book. She looked back at her
friend and was encouraged to write in the book. "Yes,"
she said and very carefully printed out, I love you
Mommy.
I then
asked the little boy if he would like to write in the
Remembrance Book. His sister said "But he can't
write." I answered "Never mind just let him do pretend
writing." The little boy eagerly took up the pen and
made those squiggling marks that are so meaningful to a
young child and so precious to us grandparents.
He put
down the pen and proudly said, "I wrote I miss you
Mommy."
While I
sat there in silent wonder at the wisdom and dignity of
small children, the little girl leaned closer to me and
whispered, "Our mother died at hospice."
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| Copyright John
F. Tomczak. All rights reserved |
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For more information on bereavement support, or to
purchase Shared Knowledge, click on the
book cover. |
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