VNA releases butterflies for loved ones
Butterflies are considered a symbol of hope, transformation and most importantly, rebirth. This is why on Sunday, Sept. 8, dozens of people came out to the Big Butler Fairgrounds to release hundreds of monarch butterflies in honor of recently departed loved ones, for the “Beyond Memories” Community Celebration event.
The event also serves as an annual fundraiser for the Lutheran SeniorLife Visiting Nurses Association Hospice Service, which provides out-of-home hospice care for people who need it in their final days, or out-of-home health care for people recovering from a serious injury or illness.
“Money is raised for the hospice, usually to cover our costs for having the event. And then anything left is for the hospice program,” said Debbie Kaylor, the VNA’s director of marketing and communications. “For people who have lost loved ones on our hospice program, we just have an event for them to get together to remember their loved ones.”
Kaylor said the event was not exclusive to those who had lost loved ones who had received hospice care from the VNA.
The butterfly release was preceded by a 30-minute ceremony in one of the fairground pavilions, which was bookended by bagpipe performances of “Amazing Grace” by Larry Morrison. The ceremony also featured violin solos by Stephanie Green, and VNA staff member Sam Medved giving a lecture on the “legend of the butterfly.”
Suzanne Grove is the associate director of the VNA. This year, Grove wasn’t just helping to coordinate the event — she was also one of the dozens who signed up to release at least one butterfly. Hers was in honor of her mother, who died earlier this year while under the care of the VNA hospice.
“A member of my family was on the receiving end of hospice care, and we are very grateful for the care that my mom received under hospice,” Grove said during the ceremony.
Kaylor’s mother-in-law also passed away earlier this year.
Just before the butterfly release, nurse Amy Stepowski read aloud a list of the 100 names of people who were being honored with the butterfly release, including one entire family which was honored all at once.
