A longstanding tradition that has been around for close to 30 years has returned again this year to remember those who are no longer with us, but forever in our hearts.

Hope Hospice President and CEO Samira Beckwith said about 10 years ago their annual Tree of Lights tradition changed providing more opportunities for individuals.

“Now people have the opportunity to have a (white) butterfly hung on one of our trees at one of our Hope Care Centers in memory of a loved one. We can memorialize, or honor a person by having a butterfly hung on the tree at one of our Care Centers,” she said.

Beckwith added that someone can also honor a loved one, even if they are not, or were not, under Hope Hospice care.

For a $50 gift, a white butterfly, which is inscribed with the name of the loved one, will be placed on a tree at the donor’s location of choice. For those who make a $100 gift, in addition to the white inscribed butterfly, the donor will also receive a 2021 keepsake metal ornament, engraved with the Hope Hospice logo.

The request forms for the Tree of Lights are asked to be sent before Friday, Dec. 17.

“The holidays are such a time of joy, fun and excitement, and at the same time we miss people who are not with us and who have passed. It’s a way to remember,” Beckwith said of Tree of Lights. “It is difficult depending on where they are on their journey of grief. It’s a difficult time to adjust when they don’t have certain people with them.”

Those interested in purchasing a butterfly can do so by visiting www.hopehcs.org to sign up for the Tree of Lights tradition, or by calling 239-482-4673.

“The reason we went to having the Tree of Lights at our different Care Centers is because we serve so many people throughout the community in our area,” Beckwith said. “When we first started, we had one tree in one central location.”

As the community grew, as well as the number of people in Hope Hospice care, the Tree of Lights grew as well. Now the Tree of Lights are located at the Bonita Springs (27200 Imperial Parkway), Cape Coral (2430 Diplomat Parkway, E.), Fort Myers (9470 HealthPark Circle) and Lehigh Acres (1201 Wings Way) Care Centers.

“People have now had experiences at the different Care Centers. Our very first one was built in the mid ’90s,” Beckwith said.

The centers, which provide a very home-like atmosphere, offer bereavement groups, counseling, respite care, as well as in-patient hospice care. She said they have the opportunity to care for 36 people at the Cape Coral Hospice Care Center.

Hope Hospice has been serving the community for 42 years. Over the years it has expanded its services to meet the needs of the community in terms of growth and filling gaps in care.

“As the needs have evolved, or changed, or new needs, we have added services and programs to better care for people in the community,” Beckwith said. “We have stayed ahead of the needs, so people don’t suffer.”

In addition to the centers, some of the other programs offered include Hope Palliative Care; Hope PACE; Hope Parkinson Program; Hope Kids Care; Hope Advanced Cardiac Care; Hope Healing Hearts and Hope Connections.

Beckwith said they offer care for babies to those well over 100 years old. She said they also offer support to women whose babies will not be born alive through prenatal grief counseling.

“We want to go deeper into the community and really meet the needs of the community. That is why we are so active to meet the needs of the people,” she said.

Beckwith encourages individuals to call Hope Hospice if their needs relate to loss, grief or serious illness.

“If we don’t have a program for them, maybe we can refer them to a program that can benefit them,” she said. “We want people to have the help they need as early as possible.”

Beckwith said Hope Hospice is not just for a short period of time, as it has provided services for more than three years for someone whose illness could not be cured, but benefited from everything the facility has to offer. She said the amount of time varies depending on the needs.

A very common phrase from families members and patients themselves, Beckwith said, is “We wish we would have called you earlier.”