Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) Home Care is inviting members of the surrounding community to join them in butterfly release ceremonies.
The ceremony locations include Shelbyville, Decatur, Effingham, Litchfield, and Springfield.
Family and friends are invited to these butterfly releases to celebrate and remember the lives of loved ones who have passed away. During these ceremonies, the names of those being honored with the butterfly release will be read out loud to those in attendance.
According to Valerie Engelbart, the Bereavement Services Supervisor for HSHS Home Care, the butterfly release ceremonies are meant to provide a special time for families throughout the local communities to honor their loved ones.
The butterfly represents the transformation of the spirit as our loved ones transition from this life.
Each ceremony will be held on a different date and time to ensure that all of those who wish to attend get a chance.
The following is a list of the dates, times, and locations of the upcoming butterfly release ceremonies:
HSHS Good Shepherd Hospital in Shelbyville will host on Wednesday, May 27, at 4 PM in the Healing Garden, located on the east side of the hospital.
HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur will host on Tuesday, May 19, at 5:30 PM in the Cancer Center Garden.
HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham will host on Thursday, May 21, at 5:30 PM in the Healing Garden.
HSHS St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield will host on Tuesday, May 26, at 5:30 PM in the circle drive by the statue of St. Francis.
HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield will host on Thursday, May 28, at 5:30 PM in the Pavilion Garden.
In addition to attending in honor of your lost loved one, HSHS invites community members to personally release a butterfly for your loved one.
To personally release a butterfly, you first must reserve your butterfly by calling Valerie Engelbart at 217-685-0702 or by sending an email to valerie.engelbart@hshs.org.
The fee to reserve a butterfly is $15 and must be paid prior to the ceremony.
For more details on HSHS, go to www.hshs.org.
