Page 2 - TOH_Newsletter_November2024

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TE OMANGA HOSPICE NEWSLETTER CHILDREN’S REMEMBRANCE AFTERNOON
In June, we hosted our Children’s Remembrance Afternoon, supported by both Te Omanga Hospice and Mary Potter Hospice. This event is dedicated to children and their whānau who have had a loved one die under hospice care within the past year.
We hold two of these special Children’s Remembrance Afternoons each year - during Matariki and again at Christmas time. The venue alternates between Te Omanga Hospice and Te Whare Rānui, the Porirua Mary Potter Hospice office.
Starting with a karakia and a waiata, guests at the Matariki Remembrance Afternoon were invited to write messages to their loved ones on stars, which were hung on the Memory Tree.
Everyone was invited to reflect on Matariki and the connection to their loved ones who have died in the past year, and Patrice Karst’s children’s book The Invisible String was read aloud.
The children in particular then engaged in three remembrance art activities: creating Memory
Mobiles, Memory Books, and decorating clay stars. The afternoon concluded with another
waiata and a shared meal.
The next Children’s Remembrance Afternoon will be held in early December.
All the children said that they enjoyed the three remembrance activities, with the clay stars being the favourite.
TE OMANGA HOSPICE RETAIL SHOPS - HOLIDAY OPENING HOURS
25 Dec – Closed
26 Dec – Closed
1 Jan – Closed
2 Jan – Closed
Otherwise normal hours.
Thank you all for your amazing support this year which ensures our patients and their whānau receive the care they need.
Visit www.teomanga.org.nz for more information.
One
of the parents observed that it was nice to see his daughter smile, as he hadn’t seen her smile much since
her grandmother died.