Ionia County Memorial Hospital

Area residents will have an opportunity to honor a loved one this holiday season by purchasing an angel from the Lafayette Guild of the Ionia County Memorial Hospital Healthcare Advocates, as it holds its annual Angel Tree Ceremony on Thursday, December 4^th at 7:00 pm.

The Guild provides angel ornaments for the community to purchase for $8.00 each in memory or honor of a loved one. The angels are tagged with a loved ones name and hung on a Christmas tree in the Hospital’s Day Room. The funds from this annual event are used to help purchase needed items for the hospital and its patients.

“The Angel Tree was originally started in 1994 to give community members a way to honor and remember family and friends,’ said Cathy Emelander, Lafayette Guild Angel Tree Coordinator. “It helps us raise money while it gives people a chance to express their feelings for others. It is a very special ceremony and the angels are a nice way of remembering loved ones each year.”

This year the ceremony will be held on Thursday, December 4^th at 7:00 pm in the Day Room at Ionia County Memorial Hospital. Pastor Nancy Patera, Easton United Methodist Church, will lead those that attend in a heartfelt prayer, followed by a short talk from George Rutherford, Ionia County Memorial Hospital COO. Leading the group in songs of the season will be Steve Hodgkins. A social time will be held immediately following the ceremony. Those that purchased angels may take them at that time or pick them up anytime before January 5th.

The Lafayette Guild is comprised of past and present ICMH employees, their families and friends. Order forms are available at the hospital, from Lafayette Guild members, and can be found at by clicking on the link. Angel Tree Form

Last updated: 24 November, 2008 08:52 AM