HSHS Home Care announced on May 7 that it will hold butterfly release ceremonies at several Hospital Sisters Health System hospitals across central Illinois this month. The events are scheduled to take place in Decatur, Effingham, Litchfield, Shelbyville, and Springfield.
The ceremonies aim to provide families and friends with an opportunity to remember loved ones who have passed away. Attendees will hear the names of those being honored read aloud before participating in a symbolic butterfly release.
Valerie Engelbart, Bereavement Services Supervisor for HSHS Home Care, said, “These butterfly release ceremonies provide a special time for families in our communities to honor their loved ones. The butterfly represents the transformation of the spirit as our loved ones transition from this life. As we release butterflies together, we celebrate the lives that have touched our hearts and find comfort in our shared experiences of love and loss.”
Participants may reserve a butterfly for $15 prior to each ceremony if they wish to personally take part in the release. Reservations can be made by contacting Engelbart or by visiting giving.hshs.org/sae/donate and following instructions under “Butterfly Release and/or Hospice Memorials”.
HSHS Good Shepherd Hospital is among the host sites for these events. It stands as Shelby County’s only hospital and provides essential medical services including emergency care, surgical procedures, diagnostic imaging, inpatient and outpatient programs through its main facility at 201 South Pine Street and rural health clinic. The hospital operates as a Catholic not-for-profit entity guided by Franciscan values under the Hospital Sisters Health System umbrella according to the official website.
The upcoming ceremonies reflect ongoing efforts by local health organizations to support community members coping with loss while also highlighting available resources.
