31st annual event invites community to honor loved ones during the holiday season
RICHMOND, KY — The holidays bring joy and celebration, but for many families, they also bring the profound absence of loved ones who are no longer here. For 31 years, Hospice Care Plus has offered the community a meaningful way to honor those memories through its annual Remembrance Tree Ceremony.
This year’s ceremony will take place on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 425 Eastern Bypass in Richmond. The event is open to anyone missing a loved one during the holidays, regardless of whether their loved one received hospice care.
“At a time of year when families gather and memories are especially dear, many find comfort in coming together with others who share in both love and loss,” said Denise McKinney, grief support coordinator at Hospice Care Plus. “The ceremony offers a meaningful way to remember those who remain in our hearts.”
A Cherished Tradition
The Remembrance Tree Ceremony has become one of the region’s most cherished holiday traditions, bringing together hundreds of community members each December. The ceremony offers a gentle space for grief and remembrance during a season that can feel especially difficult for those who have experienced loss.
The program includes an opening reflection, special music performed by the First Baptist Church handbell choir, and the reading of memorial names. As each name is read aloud, guests may place their personalized ornament on a beautifully lit Remembrance Tree, creating a visible tribute to the lives and legacies of those being remembered.
For those unable to attend in person, Hospice Care Plus staff will lovingly place ornaments on their behalf, ensuring that every name is honored and every memory acknowledged.
How to Participate
Community members who wish to participate can request a personalized memorial ornament using the secure online order form at hospicecareplus.org or by calling 859-986-1500. While there is no charge for ornaments, donations of any size are encouraged to support Hospice Care Plus’s mission.
To have a loved one’s name read in alphabetical order during the ceremony, ornament requests should be submitted by Thursday, Dec. 4. Names requested after that date will still be read aloud, but will be included at the end of the ceremony. Ornaments can also be reserved at the event on Sunday, Dec. 7.
Guests are welcome to take their memorial ornaments home after the ceremony as a keepsake. Those who cannot attend may pick up their ornaments at the Compassionate Care Center, 350 Isaacs Lane in Richmond, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Supporting Compassionate Care
Donations made in connection with the Remembrance Tree Ceremony support Hospice Care Plus’s patient care services and grief and loss support programs across the region. The organization serves Estill, Jackson, Lee, Madison, Owsley, and Rockcastle counties, providing care to all, even those who may be underinsured.
This year’s ceremony is made possible through the support of community partners including Community Trust Bank and First Baptist Church in Richmond.
Light refreshments will be provided following the ceremony, offering guests an opportunity to connect with others and share memories in a supportive environment.
For more information about the Remembrance Tree Ceremony or to request an ornament, visit hospicecareplus.org or call 859-986-1500.
IF YOU GO
What: 31st Annual Remembrance Tree Ceremony
When: Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, 2 p.m.
Where: First Baptist Church, 425 Eastern Bypass, Richmond
Who: Anyone missing a loved one during the holidays; open to all, regardless of whether Hospice Care Plus provided care
Cost: Free to attend; personalized ornaments available at no charge, donations encouraged
Ornament Deadline: Thursday, Dec. 4 for names to be read in alphabetical order (late requests still honored and read at end of ceremony; ornaments can also be reserved at the event on Dec. 7)
Details: Program includes opening reflection, special music by First Baptist Church handbell choir, reading of memorial names, ornament placement, and light reception
More Info: hospicecareplus.org | 859-986-1500
About Hospice Care Plus: Non-profit organization providing hospice, palliative, and grief support services to Estill, Jackson, Lee, Madison, Owsley, and Rockcastle counties; care provided to all, regardless of ability to paysic, selected readings, and reception
More Info: hospicecareplus.org | 859-986-1500 | Facebook: Remembrance Tree Ceremony event page
About Hospice Care Plus: Non-profit organization providing hospice, palliative, and grief support services to six counties; all care provided regardless of ability to pay