Sangamon Sun

HSHS Home Care is inviting residents across central Illinois to participate in a series of butterfly release ceremonies in memory of loved ones who have passed away. These events will take place in May and June at various Hospital Sisters Health System hospitals.

Scheduled ceremonies include the following locations and dates: HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham on May 15, HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur on May 20, HSHS St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield on May 28, HSHS Good Shepherd Hospital in Shelbyville on May 29, and HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield on June 5. Each ceremony will commence at the specified site mostly at 5:30 p.m., except in Shelbyville, which will start at 4 p.m.

These ceremonies aim to celebrate and remember deceased loved ones, with the reading of their names followed by a butterfly release. Valerie Engelbart, Bereavement Services Supervisor for HSHS Home Care, expressed, “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 can choose to release a butterfly in honor of a loved one by reserving one for a fee of $15, which must be paid before the ceremony. To purchase a butterfly or RSVP for the event, individuals are encouraged to contact Valerie Engelbart directly via phone or email. For online reservations, visit giving.hshs.org/sae/donate and follow the instructions provided to designate the gift in honor or memory of someone special.