VNA Hospice to host 21st annual memorial service Nov. 1

VNA Hospice invites community members to its 21st annual Memorial Service at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, in the hospice sanctuary at VNA Health Care, 400 N. Highland Ave. in Aurora.

The service includes memorial poem readings, candle lighting, the reading of all loved one's names, music, and an inspirational message. Each person will have an opportunity to acknowledge their loved one as their name is read.

The guest speaker will be the Rev. Sharon Olson from the Pilgrim Baptist Church in Rockford. Marla Holman, director of nursing at Jennings Terrace in Aurora, will provide song accompanied by Sue Gilla from Fourth Street United Methodist Church in Aurora.

"This beautiful ceremony is a celebration of the lives of the ones we have lost," said Matt Merges, VNA Hospice chaplain. "It offers our families a time to honor and remember their loved ones and offers our staff a way to honor the patients who have left a mark on our souls."

Refreshments and fellowship will follow the memorial. For information, contact Chaplain Matt Merges at (630) 978-2532.

VNA Health Care provides affordable health care to over 61,000 women, men and children living primarily in Kane, DuPage and Will counties. VNA runs nine community health centers and is nationally ranked as a top performing health center as a result of patient outcomes such as prenatal care, adolescent weight screening and counseling, vascular disease treatment, blood pressure control, healthy birthweights, and asthma care. VNA's combination of convenience (by appointment or walk-in), patient-centered technology and expert care delivered with respect and compassion have led to these results. VNA is accredited by The Joint Commission.