NORWICH – Nearly 100 people turned out on a bitter winter night last Thursday to witness the official lighting of Hospice of Chenango County’s memorial tree. The ‘Light up a Life’ ceremony is held each year so that families can symbolically and communally remember someone who has passed away and is missed very much especially during the holidays.

Three individuals were honored as official tree lighters. Ramona Pike spoke about how Hospice took care of three family members over the years, most recently her husband Roger in 2009. Heidi Ruff, the daughter of Kaveda Ostrander, thanked the Hospice staff for taking such good care of her mother who passed away on Christmas day last year. Finalyy, former Hospice Board of Director, LouAnn Mustillo shared the fact that she considered herself prepared to care for her father because of her volunteer work for Hospice, along with her own professional health care background. However, she emphasized that nothing can really prepare you when you find yourself in the midst of you own Hospice story. She praised Hospice for their dedication and the support they provided her father, herself, and her family at all hours of day and night.