Butterfly Release
Butterflies will be freed to fly when the VNA Hospice Services holds its fifth annual Beyond Memories Community Celebration of Life and Butterfly Release.
The event, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Sept. 9 at Succop Conservancy, 185 Airport Road, is an opportunity to celebrate life through nature, poetry and music amidst the gardens of the conservancy, said Debbie Kaylor, director of customer relations for VNA Hospice Services.
For a tax-deductible donation, participants will receive a monarch butterfly on their arrival and a loved one's name will be read aloud during the ceremony.
Nearly 400 people attended last year's event, said the Rev. Connie Dunn, spiritual coordinator with the VNA and a Presbyterian minister, and 325 butterflies were released.
“We are expecting 400 and 450 people this year,” said Kaylor. “But people don't have to purchase a butterfly to attend.”
The event features the music of The Circle of Friends handbell and voice choirs.
“It's basically been the same format, spoken word and prayer, some music, different forms of music,” said Dunn. “I think the only year we changed it up was last year when we did a commemoration for 9-11 because it was the 10th anniversary.
“Actually, people can purchase butterflies in honor of a loved one who's still living or honor someone who has died, whether it was last week or five years ago,” said Dunn.
“It is truly a celebration of life. There are some tears, but it is uplifting and celebratory,” said Dunn.
“We have had people come to all five of them,” said Kaylor. “They look forward to it. When they send their paperwork in, they say how much they enjoy it.”
The butterflies come from a New Castle business called Wish Upon a Butterfly, said Dunn. “I think they call it a butterfly farm.”
“They actually come asleep. I will pick them up on Friday or Saturday,” Dunn said. “All the butterflies come in their own envelope. They are kept in a cooler on ice.
“As they get warm, they wake up. When they are good and warm, we let them out of their envelopes and they will take flight on their own,” said Dunn.
The butterflies take off en masse, said Kaylor, except from a few that may escape their envelopes early.
“They have a lot of flowers with gardens at the conservancy, so there a lot that hang around,” Kaylor said.
“Every year, the conservancy does an open house following our ceremony,” said Dunn. “Last year, they did a large bird demonstration. They've given us tours of the conservancy and all the gardens.”
To purchase a butterfly, call 724-431-3372 by Sept. 5. For more information, call or visit www.vna.com.
Proceeds will go to the VNA Hospice to aid in supporting the patients and families in its programs.
