April 15, 2019 – Residents of The Lutheran Village at Miller’s Grant who died over the past year were remembered at the senior living community on April 14. More than 100 friends and family gathered in the Formal Dining room for the third annual memorial service and concert to honor 15 residents.
The service, led by Miller’s Grant Chaplain Stacey Brady, included a candle grief ritual in which seven candles symbolizing love, joy, memories, tears, hope, peace and strength were lighted to help surviving family and friends with their healing journey.
“The service is intentionally ecumenical to be inclusive for all friends and family,” said Miller’s Grant Chaplain Stacey Brady. “The service is very spiritual, however, to honor those who have died and to lift up friends and family as they acknowledge and process their grief.”
The names of each person who died were read followed by the tolling of a chime:
- Christopher “Chris” Barrett
- Helen Becker
- Dominic Corriere
- Gordon Darmsteadt
- Robert “Bob” Evans
- Marion Feeney
- William “Bill” Kirchhoff
- George Kraft
- Frances “Fran” Lease
- Marcia Littlefield
- Joseph “Joe” Miller
- Geraldine “Gerry” Sinchak
- Mary Sutherland
- Nan Swisher
- Elizabeth “Betty” Thiele
Five Miller’s Grant residents performed classical selections from Bach, Chopin, Handel, Vivaldi, and others. Musicians included Marcene Huebner, Sue Nicholson and Sue Pumplin on piano, Marlee Lindon on flute and Dave Pumplin on cello. The concert was followed by a reception for friends and family to reconnect with one another in remembrance of those who died.
The Lutheran Village at MILLER’S GRANT is a faith-based not-for-profit continuing care retirement community in Ellicott City with 205 apartments, 36 homes, 20 assisted living suites and 12 nursing beds off Frederick Road next to the Charles E. Miller Library. MILLER’S GRANT opened in February 2016 and is currently home to over 350 residents. People of all faiths are welcome.
