Annual KDH Memorial Service honours patients who have passed away

“Joy shared is joy multiplied; grief shared is grief diminished,” said Susan Brown, Chair of the Pastoral Care Committee at Kemptville District Hospital (KDH). She was describing the intention of the KDH Memorial Service, held annually to honour patients who have died in the previous year while admitted at the hospital.

Every spring, immediate and extended family are invited to gather for the Memorial Service to honour their loved one, and to hear a message of hope and encouragement for those who are left to mourn. This year’s Memorial Service will take place on Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 2:00 pm. The service will be held at North Grenville Community Church, located next door to KDH.

The Kemptville District Hospital Memorial Service is a collaboration between KDH, the KDH Pastoral Care Committee, and Beth Donovan Hospice.

“For some families, the Memorial Service may be the first and/or only public acknowledgement of the death of their loved one,” explained Brown. “Inviting and including them in the service demonstrates to family and friends that they are valued by the hospital, as much as their loved one was while a patient.”

KDH’s CEO Frank Vassallo echoed this sentiment: “The Memorial Service is an important event in the annual life of KDH,” he stated. “It gives us an opportunity to say, ‘We are grateful for the opportunity to have cared for your family member. Your loved one was valued, and is not forgotten’.”

Brown shared that at last year’s Memorial Service, “Some family members were visibly moved, some offered a sincere thanks to the Hospital for hosting this event and for the kindness and empathy shared that day.” Friends and family have also commented that the service provides an opportunity to visit and share with people who understand what they’ve been going through since the loss of their loved one, because they’ve been going through it too.

All family members and friends of people who passed away at KDH in 2023 are invited to attend the service on May 9, 2024. Family members and friends are asked to bring a framed photo of their loved one to the Memorial Service. The photos, which are returned to their owners after the service, help to put a much-loved face to each name.

The KDH Pastoral Care Committee is a subgroup of the KDH Auxiliary; as such, all of its members are volunteers. The Committee is interdenominational, offering support to any and all denominations.

Those wishing to attend the KDH Memorial Service are requested to RSVP by April 25, 2024 to kdh_info@kdh.on.ca.

About Kemptville District Hospital

Kemptville District Hospital (KDH) is an integrated health services organization serving the health needs of North Grenville, the eastern regions of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, and South Ottawa in partnership with other health care and community organizations in our region. KDH is part of an approved Ontario Health Team – Ottawa West Four Rivers – comprised of many community service providers as well as our primary care providers in the region. KDH provides 24-hour emergency care, inpatient care, surgical programs including advanced orthopedic surgery, and a wide variety of outpatient clinics. We are committed to our mission of ‘Building Healthier Communities’ based on a patient and family centered delivery model, collaborative partnerships, and employing the best technology available. KDH is a model of hospital-led integrated health services within the provincial health system.

For further information, contact:

Jenny Read, Communications Officer

T: 613-258-6133 extension 225

jeread@kdh.on.ca