Worldwide Candle Lighting Memorial

Ceremony in memory of children who have died at any age by any circumstance

The holidays can be an especially heartfelt time for families to connect with love, hope and healing. However, for families whose children have died, the holidays can be especially difficult, and too often, extremely isolating. “During the holidays the vacancy in our home missing him is painful,” said Marlene Garcia, remembering 18-year old Edwin.

Jacqueline Raynor, whose son, Christopher died at age 11 in 1999 added, “I lost my son fourteen years ago and the holidays are the still most painful time of year for our family and others like ours.”

In honor of the Compassionate Friends’ Worldwide Candle Lighting, Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services, Hospice of Santa Cruz and Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital are uniting to hold two concurrent local events for bereaved families who have lost a child in Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties. Candle lighting at each venue will begin at 7:00 pm. The Salinas and Watsonville events will be bilingual and families are invited to come early at 6 pm and bring their child’s favorite food to share.

Raynor and Garcia, along with other families who have lost a child, will be attending ceremonies on December 8 joining other families around the world and will welcome and comfort newly bereaved parents like Tammy Lee, whose son, Casey died from an accidental overdose last month.

“This will be my first Christmas without Casey, so this gathering with other parents who have lost children is extremely important to me,” said Lee. “ I am very grateful to have the opportunity to meet families who have survived this unbearable loss that is so new to me.”

For bereaved families who wish to participate in the City of Santa Cruz, the Santa Cruz chapter of The Compassionate Friends is holding its third annual Worldwide Candle Lighting ceremony, at the Quaker Meetinghouse, 225 Rooney Street, in Santa Cruz. Doors open at 6:30, ceremony at 7 pm. The Compassionate Friends welcome anyone grieving a child who has died.

Two bilingual public gatherings on Sunday, December 8: 6 pm: 611 Abbot Street, Salinas, CA (2nd floor) Bilingual with potluck dinner • 6 pm: 2007 Freedom Blvd., Freedom, CA (Jacob’s Heart Family Center) Bilingual with potluck dinner

Candle lighting ceremony at 7 pm in all locations

The Worldwide Candle Lighting is a tradition of “The Compassionate Friends,” a worldwide organization of parents who have lost a child of any age, by any circumstance. In various time zones around the globe, at 7:00 pm, on the second Sunday in December families gather in large and small groups or alone in their own homes and light candles in their child’s memory. Parents in the next time zone will then light their candles at 7pm and the flame of remembrance will circle the globe.

All families who have lost a child of any age by any kind of disease, accident, violence, or those who have chosen to end their own lives, are invited to join any of the gatherings. Families who are unable to attend either of the local gatherings may find a gathering near them at compassionatefriends.org, or are invited to light candles at 7:00 pm at home in solidarity with all families grieving the loss of a child.

For information about the Watsonville and Salinas ceremonies, contact Jacob’s Heart at 831-724-9100 or email families@jacobsheart.org

For information about the Santa Cruz ceremony, contact the Compassionate Friends at 831-332-9893 or email tcfsantacruz@gmail.com.

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Lori Butterworth, Founder and Executive Director Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support 2007 Freedom Blvd. Freedom, CA 95019 … to improve the quality of life for children with cancer by supporting their families in the challenges they face.