The Compassionate Friends of Northwest Nebraska is holding a candlelighting ceremony in honor of loved ones who have passed on this Sunday afternoon at the Ridgeview Bible Church in Chadron.

The Compassionate Friends…an international, nonprofit, self help support organization…says the 2:30 ceremony gives grieving individuals an opportunity to honor the memory of their dead loved ones by lighting a candle as part of the group’s Worldwide Candle Lighting.

As candles are lit around the world in each time zone and stay lighted for one hour, they create a virtual wave of light as hundreds of thousands of persons commemorate the deceased in a way that transcends all cultural, religious and political boundaries.

Although membership in The Compassionate Friends is limited to the parents, grandparents and siblings of children who have died, the candlelighting ceremony is open to any wanting to celebrate the lives and honor the memory of any person of any age or relationship.

Organizers are asking that people who wish to share the life of their loved one, to please bring a picture of them and light a candle in their honor. The Chadron ceremony will include a slide show of those being honored in this area.

To have a loved one included, send their information and a picture or jpeg file to [email protected] or Evelyn Mitchell, 238 Goffena Rd, Chadron 69337

The Compassionate Friends organization has no religious affiliation and there are no membership dues or fees. The Northwest Nebraska chapter was begun in 2006 and holds regular meetings with varied activities as members reach out to parents who’ve lost a child at any age from any cause.

The chapter also asks that anyone coming to the candlelighting bring a new, unwrapped gift for a child that will go to Chadron Caring and Sharing for local distribution. For more information, contact Pat Mracek at 308-207-5341, or Evelyn Mitchell at 432-3051