TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Pasco County Residents Have A 'Time For Remembrance'

ADVERTISEMENT

By SHERRI LONON IN THE LOOP

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 11, 2009

Individuals and families coping with the loss of a loved one can join others from around Pasco County during two upcoming events designed to give them a safe and supportive place to honor their memories.

The semi-annual Time For Remembrance will take place at two locations in Pasco County with a number of different times scheduled. The first set of events takes place March 24 at 2 and 6 p.m. at Hernando-Pasco Hospice's Dade City campus, 37445 Clinton Ave. The second is set for March 26 at 11 a.m., 2 and 6 p.m. at the New Port Richey campus, 6807 Rowan Road. Each individual service is expected to last about an hour.

According to Tom Beason, the organization's manager of spiritual care, the events have been a tradition of the nonprofit group for more than a decade. They are held to give anyone who is dealing with a death, no matter how recent or far back in the past, a place to go to grieve, honor and remember their loved one.

"It's an opportunity for folks who have lost a loved one to gather with other people and acknowledge their grief and participate in a (nondenominational) service we offer," he said.

The services include a time for people to speak about the loss. They also feature a release of live doves. Hospice grief counselors will be on hand to speak with anyone who might require extra assistance.

"It's helpful for people to have an opportunity and a safe place to express their emotions," Beason said. "It connects them in an experience with other (people going through similar ordeals). People can realize they're not alone."

Jane Freeman, the agency's communications specialist, said the Time for Remembrance services are open to anyone without cost. While the events do not take place in Central Pasco, she said many people from Land O' Lakes and Wesley Chapel do take part.

Freeman wants to make sure that those grieving the loss of a loved one to death know they are welcomed to attend even if their loved one was not under hospice care.

"There are so many people in the community that are under the impression that they can't come to this if there's a loved one who maybe died in an accident," she said. "The other thing that a lot of people aren't aware of is that our bereavement groups are open to anyone who has experienced a death."

For more information about the upcoming events or Hernando-Pasco Hospice and its outreach programs, call (727) 863-7971 or visit hphospice.org.

Editor Sherri Lonon can be reached at (813) 948-4287 or at slonon@mediageneral.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT