Symbols of hope in times of grief – 1,000 origami paper cranes, a ritual Native American dance and the “Before I Die . . . ” bucket list wall – will be the centerpieces of “Celebration of Life,” an annual community event that honors families’ memories of their loved ones. The life-affirming memorial, free and open to the public, will be held (rain or shine) on October 19, 1-3 p.m. at Heights Park, located behind Heights Recreation Center, 711 W. Arapaho Road in Richardson.
“We’re creating an uplifting afternoon for children, teens and young adults, along with their parents and grandparents, to come together as a community to celebrate the memories of their loved ones’ lives,” said Carey Crawford, Bereavement Coordinator of Grace Hospice, co-sponsor of the Celebration of Life event with Journey of Hope Grief Support Center and Distinctive Life Cremations & Funerals.
Members of the Comanche, Saponi, Apache and Lakota Nations, dressed in vibrantly colored traditional garb, will present a spiritual dance and music program with singing with drum accompaniment from 1:45 – 2:15 p.m.
Guests also are invited to create symbolic origami cranes, enjoy children’s face painting and sign the internationally acclaimed “Before I Die” wall, part of an interactive global art project for those of all ages to share their personal aspirations in a public space. Individuals may write down a bucket list item as an affirmation to do it and not have regrets in life,” said Tammy Friedman, co-founder, Distinctive Life. “It’s a reminder to live life to the fullest, never waste a moment and pursue what you want to achieve.”
Some “Before I Die” wall entries include: sky dive, cage dive with great white sharks, run a marathon, find inner peace and visit Ireland and Italy. People’s responses allow others to understand their family, friends and members of the community in new and enlightening ways. “The wall reminds us that we’re not alone as we go through what may seem at times to be insurmountable challenges,” said Friedman, whose company brought the wall to Richardson.
The origami cranes, to hang from treetops in Heights Park, reference the ancient Japanese story promising that anyone who folds 1,000 origami cranes will be granted their wish. Paper cranes also have become a symbol of hope and healing in challenging times thanks to a story about Sadako Sasaki, a young Japanese girl exposed to radiation from the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Later diagnosed with leukemia, she fell short of her goal of folding 1,000 cranes to make her wish for recovery. Her friends completed the 1,000 cranes and buried them with her to honor her dream.
Independently owned and operated, Distinctive Life Cremations & Funeral breaks new ground in an otherwise staid industry with its first-ever celebration of life boutiques in Richardson and Plano. The locations, open and airy with floor-to-ceiling windows to let in streams of natural light, feature a contemporary interior design to showcase such other-worldly items as themed urns, sculptures, jewelry, garden ornaments, bio-degradable urns, memory pillows and stuffed animals, as well as larger-than-life services to dispatch a loved one’s remains into outer space or via a fireworks display.
“We’re helping change the way people view end-of-life planning by making it a much more comfortable and much less intimidating experience,” said Friedman, describing their retail setting complete with digital screens and photography that convey ways to share memories through customized farewells and celebrations of life. “It’s really counterintuitive to the industry.”
For further info on the Celebration of Life event, please call (972) 424-1144.
Photo ID: Distinctive Life Cremation & Funeral’s Melissa Guerrero, dressed in traditional Native American garb, visited the “Before I Die . . .” bucket list wall in New Orleans, which was on her bucket list to see. A similar wall will be on display in Richardson Sunday, October 19, 1-3 p.m. as part of the “Celebration of Life” memorial event at Heights Park that is free and open to the public. For further info on the “Celebration of Life” event, please call (972) 424-1144.