Each December, community members who have recently lost a loved one come together for Light Up A Life – a special service of remembrance hosted by Spartanburg Regional Hospice in partnership with Spartanburg Regional Foundation.

The event features music and speakers, who reflect on themes of love and hope, and culminates with the release of dove balloons. During the service, the names of those who have passed away are read aloud.

“It's really significant to hear your loved one's name read – it brings back happy memories and good emotions,” said Beth Cutshall, a social worker with Spartanburg Regional Hospice.

She added that it can be comforting for families who are grieving the loss of a loved one to come together with others who share a similar experience.

“It can bring a sense of camaraderie, and you know you're not alone,” Cutshall said.

The 2018 Light Up a Life will be held on December 6 at Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System's Beaumont Mill campus, located at 700 N. Pine Street. There will be two hour-long services – 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Participants are invited to make a donation in honor of a loved one. Proceeds will benefit Spartanburg Regional Foundation's Hospice Special Needs Fund. The fund supports a wide range of services for Spartanburg Regional Hospice patients and their families, including a Thanksgiving and Easter meals program, assistance to cover the cost of medicines and other basic needs, bereavement programs, and more.

Donors will receive a special holiday ornament at the service while supplies last.

Light Up a Life is part of a robust Spartanburg Regional Hospice bereavement program. There are bi-monthly services of remembrance, group discussion sessions, and interactive workshops that feature music and visual arts. 

Hospice chaplain Katie Harbin said the bereavement program provides essential support for families going through a difficult time. And she noted that hospice staff members value opportunities to visit with families they had worked with and, in some cases, become close to.

“You'll wonder how the families are doing, and it's nice to reconnect,” Katie said.

Harbin looks forward each year to Light Up a Life.

“It's a time to honor a loved one in a way that's meaningful and uplifting,” she said.