The 100 Mile chapter of the Compassionate Friends held its 14th Annual Candle Lighting Memorial Service at BJ's Donut & Eatery on Dec. 7 and it was a good turnout, says group facilitator Andrea Martin.
The next Compassionate Friends event is the worldwide candle-lighting service, which involves bereaved parents and families honouring the memories of their children. It is held on Dec. 14 at 7 p.m.
Martin says these services are private affairs put on by people who are grieving the loss of a child. She adds it could be one or two people or a large group lighting candles.
Martin notes the Blue Service at the 100 Mile House United Church on Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. is for people dealing with a loss of any kind.
"It could be a death in the family; it could be loss of financial security – a job, or just anything in their life right now that's sitting heavy on them, which overshadows the spirit of why we are celebrating Christmas.
"Anybody in these circumstances is invited and more than welcome at this service. They only need to show up at the church."
Martin notes the Compassionate Friends support group is becoming active again after a hiatus due to the numbers being down and the participants were already seeing each other on a regular basis.
At last year's candle-lighting, she says it became quite apparent that several parents wanted support through their bereavement more than once a year, so Martin and Ivy Henderson are going to have monthly meetings – with alternating morning and evening groups.
For more information, call Andrea at 250-395-4417, or Ivy at 250-395-2867.