“Light up a light, light up a life.” Hospice of San Joaquin is celebrating 35 years of bringing honor to loved ones through their Tree of Lights events throughout San Joaquin County, and beyond. Each light on the trees in their respective community, represents a loved one who has touched the lives of families and friends. The Tree of Lights program helps those left behind transition from grief and sorrow to remembrance and honoring. The lighting ceremonies have become a tradition for many families within our community over the past 35 years. Hospice of San Joaquin is grateful to our host sites, sponsors, community partners, and multitude of volunteers who support lighting ceremonies throughout the season. Dedicate a light to remember or honor a loved one by donating to Hospice of San Joaquin.
“Our trees are ‘Trees of Life’ honoring the gift of life.” says CEO Rebecca Burnett. “Each tree brings light to the dark night, as do the memories of our loved ones whose light will shine throughout the holiday season. We are thankful to PG&E who has, from inception, provided employee volunteers and funded grants for tree set up and maintenance.”
For 35 years, Hospice of San Joaquin has been shining brightly through their Tree of Lights event. Held every November and December throughout San Joaquin County, Tree of Lights is an opportunity for anyone in the community to recognize, pay tribute, and honor their loved ones.
Tree of Lights began when Mark Rasmussen wanted to honor his late wife, Kathy, who had received services from Hospice of San Joaquin. Mark was a PGE employee who rallied fellow PGE volunteers to create the first Tree of Lights on the San Joaquin Delta College Campus in Stockton. The enormous pine tree at the corner of Pacific and Yokuts Avenue was, and still is the very first Tree of Lights. Fellow PG&E employee, Dave Ayers, created the Memory Boards that were displayed that first year. These memory boards show the names of the loved ones who have a light on the tree, and are not at all locations throughout the county.
Now retired from PG&E, Dave continues to volunteer for Tree of Lights. He has recruited his son and grandson to help with the project! As we were preparing for the 35th Anniversary Celebration, Dave and his family have been busy creating fresh, new donor boards. Not only do the Ayers make the boards, they install and take down at each of our eight locations, and then store them for the following year. We are grateful for the three generations of the Ayers family and their generous support of the Tree of Lights.
In addition, from the very beginning, PGE has provided employee volunteers who put the lights on our trees in Manteca, Ripon, Escalon, Rio Vista, Tracy, Lockeford and Lodi. Tree lighting Ceremonies are held in each community and have become a tradition for many families as they pay tribute to their loved ones. We hope you will “light a light” and join us at one of our ceremonies.
Donations for Tree of Lights begins in October and accepted through the end of the year. Your donation will light up our Tree of Lights and support Hospice of San Joaquin programs for terminally ill patients and their families. For further information go to: Hospicesj.org/events/Tree of Lights.
Ceremonies will be held throughout the county at locations listed below.
Tree Lighting Ceremonies
Stockton
San Joaquin Delta College. Corner of Yokuts & Pacific Avenue
Tuesday, November 21, 2023 – 5:30 PM
Lockeford
Bank of the West. 13299 East Hwy 88
Date: TBD
Ripon
Veteran's Memorial Wall 311 1st Street
Monday, November 27, 2023 – 6:00 PM
Escalon
Main St. Park Main & 2nd Street
Tuesday, November 28, 2023 – 5:30 PM
Manteca
Doctors Hospital of Manteca 105 East North Street
Thursday, November 30, 2023 – 5:30 PM
Lodi
City Hall 211 West Pine Street
Thursday, November 30, 2023 – 5:30 PM
Rio Vista
City Hall 1 Main Street
Saturday, December 2, 2023 – 5:30 PM
Tracy
City Hall 333 Civic Center Drive
Tuesday, December 5, 2023 – 5:30 PM
Hospice of San Joaquin’s mission and vision is to honor life by ensuring patients and their caregivers are the focus of everything we do and be the leader in ensuring quality of the journey. For more information, visit hospicesj.org or call 209-957-3888.
When you choose hospice – choose Hospice of San Joaquin.
We are the one with the Butterfly!