PORT TOWNSEND — Hospice of Jefferson Healthcare will host its annual community memorial service at 5 p.m. Thursday.
The free, nondenominational service will be at Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2333 San Juan Ave.
Refreshments and sharing are planned after the service.
Anyone in East Jefferson County who has experienced the death of a loved one in the past year is invited to join with friends and family.
The service of remembrance emphasizes community and the celebration of life, said Kate Burke, marketing manager for Jefferson Healthcare hospital.
It is held every autumn before the holiday season because the holidays are often difficult and lonely, especially during the first year after the death, she said.
The service includes music, candle lighting, a program of responsive readings, reflections and sharing.
Hospice spiritual care providers Bernie Ward-Crixell and Beth Orling will officiate.
Musical interludes will be provided by harpist Shannon Ryan as well as members of the Threshold Choir.
Memorial quilt
During the ceremony, a memorial quilt made by the Cabin Fever Quilters will be displayed, and family members and friends are encouraged to add a photo or memento to honor their loved one.
The memorial service is made possible by the Hospice Foundation of Jefferson Healthcare, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
For more information about Jefferson Healthcare, see www.jeffersonhealthcare.org.