This year’s Memorial Butterfly Release organized by Madawaska Valley Hospice Palliative Care (MVHPC) and St. Francis Valley Healthcare Foundation (SFVHF) took place at Water Tower Park in Barry’s Bay in the sunshine on Sunday July 28. Participants enjoyed tranquil music from the YoYo Mamas as they awaited the signal to release their 150 butterflies. That number of butterflies had also been pre-ordered and collected for home release throughout the Valley. The off-site participants were able to release the additional 150 butterflies at the same time by following the SFVHF live stream video of the Butterfly Release on Facebook.
MVHPC Executive Director, Lisa Hubers, welcomed everyone on-site and those watching at home. She explained the sequence of events and acknowledged the work of both volunteers and staff at MVHPC, thanked them and said what an excellent team they are.
Erin Gienow, Executive Director of SFVHF, thanked all the sponsors of the 2024 Butterfly Release including: CO Country Market, Campbell Monuments, Heubner Funeral Home, Madawaska Valley Lions Club, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 406 Barry’s Bay, and an anonymous sponsor. Gienow thanked all those who purchased butterflies as part of this annual fundraiser and explained that the proceeds help support MVHPC.
Dylaina Wood, Clinical Director of MVHPC, acknowledged that emotions were running high among those attending the event. She then introduced the speaker, Julie Keon, grief and bereavement counsellor.
Keon spoke eloquently and comfortingly, explaining that grief is an individualized journey and that everyone’s story deserves to be heard. She used poetry to create a peaceful atmosphere for the audience, ending:
Forever in your dreams,
Always in your heart.
Photo at top by Joerg Hartmann on www.pexels.com
