All Pawtucket All The Time

The Dyer-Lake Funeral Home will be hosting their 12^th annual Holiday Memorial Tree Open House on Saturday, December 5, 2009 at the funeral home from 1:00 – 4:00 PM.  The funeral home staff cordially invites all members of the community to bring a tree ornament, placed in memory of loved ones and friends who have passed, to suspend among the glittering white lights of our indoor evergreen trees.

As the holiday season approaches, the funeral home is proud to provide the community with this unique opportunity to remember loved ones.  The Memorial Tree program allows people to come together and celebrate lives and relationships. 

Michael S. Lake of Dyer-Lake Funeral Home initiated this event more than ten years ago after witnessing families’ difficulties in enjoying and celebrating the holiday season after experiencing a loss. Holding the event in early December, Lake said, allows people to remember and celebrate their lost loved ones while giving them permission to enjoy the holiday season with those remaining family members.

Creativity is encouraged as the ornaments reflect the special life lived by the person being remembered.  Ornaments from previous years will be displayed on this year’s trees.  People are encouraged to include the person’s name and dates of birth and death on the ornament as a permanent record.

The funeral home staff invites all those who are able to participate in the annual “Meals of Hope” campaign by donating non-perishable food items for distribution to families in need during the holiday season.  Donations can be dropped off at the funeral home anytime during normal business hours until December 18, 2009 or during the Memorial Tree event.  This year’s community charity pledge is directed towards a food drive, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, since so many families are struggling during this time of economic hardship. 

Some of the most needed items include: canned soups, tuna, peanut butter, nuts, canned and dried beans, canned fruits and vegetables, juices, tomato sauces, nutritious breakfast cereals, whole wheat pasta, brown rice, granola bars, cracker packages, canned stews and chili and extra virgin olive oil.

The event is open to all members of the community whether or not Dyer-Lake has served the family.  Refreshments will be provided.  For additional information, please call the funeral home at (508) 695-0200.

The funeral home additionally offers a monthly grief support group, which typically meets on the third Wednesday of each month from September through May at 7:00 PM in the funeral home. According to Lake, this provides people with an outlet and resource for their grief throughout the year.

For information on the Memorial Tree, “Meals of Hope” or Grief Support programs, please contact the funeral home at (508) 695-0200.