A Celebration of Life & Lights Fills Richfield With Nearly 500 Tributes to Honor Loved Ones
On Friday, Nov. 6, the autumn leaves were still putting on a show at Friendship Richfield Living in Salem, and temperatures in the 60s made it a perfect evening to linger outdoors. As daylight faded over the lake, nearly 500 personalized luminaries began to glow besides thousands of dazzling lights. Residents, families, team members and neighbors gathered for Friendship’s second annual A Celebration of Life & Lights, an evening to honor and remember the people who have touched our lives.
For Friendship resident Linda, one of those lights was right where it belonged. Her mother, Marie, loved the little stream and the bridge that crossed it. That was where Linda found the luminary bearing her mother’s name. She sent photos to family in Hamburg, New York, and Charleston, South Carolina, so they could share in the evening from afar.
“My family and I want to thank you for the wonderful Lights and Life evening,” Linda wrote. Her family “viewed all the pictures I sent last evening and were so pleased with the impressive venue and staff efforts.”
The evening brought back memories for resident Mikey W., too. In an interview with WFXR, she shared that she dedicated four lights to her mother, father, brother and husband, Allan. She and Allan were married for 58 years, and she remembered how he made her laugh every day.
The appreciation carried into conversations after the event. “My residents so enjoyed this event, and I’ve heard nothing but great compliments about the entire evening,” said Beverly, a Friendship activities director.
Each sponsored luminary also helped support Friendship’s Resident Benevolence Fund, which assists residents who have outlived their financial resources and need help covering the cost of care.
Thank you to everyone who dedicated a light, joined us by the lake or helped bring the evening together. To the team members and volunteers who took the time to find just the right spot for a light like Marie’s, thank you. Your care meant a great deal to the families who came to remember someone they love.
Watch WFXR’s coverage of A Celebration of Life & Lights