Staff Report
For the past 15 years, the annual Angels Among Us Remembrance Service hosted by VNA Health has helped community residents celebrate the life and memory of passed loved ones during the holiday season. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, VNA Health continued this important tradition Dec. 8 with a virtual Angels Among Us atvna.health/2020angelsamongus.
Though online, this year’s service included the tradition of sharing music and stories, lighting candles, honoring veterans and lost soldiers, and remembering loved ones. Since participants couldn’t gather and light candles, VNA Health created make-and-keep candle ornaments in the centerfold of its Fall 2020 issue of Live Wellmagazine. To receive a copy of the magazine, please email marketing@vna.health.
“Angels Among Us has always been one of those very heartwarming programs that connects people; and this year, though safely apart online, we will still be connected,” said Sena Woodall, director of hospice care. “Angels Among Us will continue to be a source of comfort for those who have lost a loved one, and the video of the service will remain on our website even after the holidays.”
During the holiday season, the need for bereavement care and support is greatest, as memories and traditions can bring up grief and loss. Even through COVID-19, the VNA Health bereavement care team has sustained its programs via telehealth care, phone-conferencing, and video-conferencing to support families and friends with grief counseling, group support, workshops and other resources. For more information on Bereavement support, please email at bereavement@vna.health or leave a confidential message at 805.690.6201. All services are offered to the community free of charge.
