An Evening to Remember

Written by Shawna Ellis

“On November 13th we held our 9th Annual Evening To Remember event, gathering virtually, we remembered and honored memories of those who we have lost to suicide.  The Evening To Remember event, which is sponsored in part by Living Hope, provides a space for the community to come together to share experiences of grief, gain the strength of togetherness, pay tribute and commemorate lives of lost loved ones.  This event also provides an element of healing to those navigating through their grief journey as they seek ways to integrate their losses into their lives. “

It has been 30 years since I lost my Dad to suicide.  My journey has been long, painful at times, struggling at times, but there have also been rewarding and proud times.  30 years ago, the stigma was more prevalent than it is today….but the stigma is still there.  We’ve made progress, but there is still work to be done.  It starts with talking, sharing, and learning; working together to break the stigma.  I no longer grieve the loss of my Dad; instead, I celebrate who he was, the many lives he made brighter, and the legacy he left behind is proudly paid forward through my brother and I.  This does not mean that I no longer grieve or have bad days;  I do. 

 It is because of programs like An Evening To Remember, we can guide our journey to help others and accept help by sharing experiences, taking time to find peace, and finding a way to move from grieving our loved ones, to celebrating them.