Submitted by Debbie Cruzelle
The Angel Hospice Tree (sometimes called the Memory Tree) was first placed in the Barriere library in December of 2009.
Prior to 2009, area resident Bonnie Cruzelle-Myram had been remembering her departed loved ones at this time of year through the Kamloops Hospice Society. Bonnie got to thinking, wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to remember cherished loved ones in our own community, and at the same time the Barriere Hospice Society could benefit from any donations that would be made in their memory. She approached Drake Smith of the North Thompson Funeral Services and asked if he would like to help with her plan, and he graciously agreed.
Bonnie passed away in 2012 at the Marjory Willoughby Hospice in Kamloops. The family was very grateful that they were able to be with Bonnie, and have the caring staff and doctors at the hospice care for her at a difficult time. During one of Bonnie’s many long talks with her family, she made a request that the Angel Hospice Tree in Barriere be ongoing. She felt it would be a dream come true if this valley could have a Hospice House of its own, a place where our loved ones could be during their time of need.
The Angel Hospice Tree is once again standing in the Barriere Library, and waiting to be covered in angels with our departed loved ones names on them.
Anyone can stop in at the Library, write the name of a loved one onto a paper angel (as provided), and hang the angel onto the Angel Hospice Tree. There is a donation box as well, and every dollar donated will go to a Hospice House in the valley.
This tradition will be continued on in years to come as Bonnie wished. With our community spirit being as strong as it is, it will not be long before the North Thompson Valley will have a Hospice House of its very own.
Happy Holidays to all.