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We hope you will be able to join us on Sunday, December 14, 2025 at 6:30 pm, when the Oneonta Region Chapter of The Compassionate Friends will join other chapters worldwide to observe The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting (WCL). The special ceremony will be held in-person at the Unitarian Universalist Society Church, 12 Ford Avenue, Oneonta, NY. The WCL unites family and friends in honoring children, grandchildren, and siblings who have died from any cause, and it transcends all ethnic, cultural, religious, and political boundaries. As candles are lit at 7:00 pm local time, we join thousands of other bereaved families to create a virtual 24-hour wave of light as it moves from time zone to time zone, starting in New Zealand. The WCL gives bereaved families everywhere the opportunity to remember their children so “…that their light may always shine!”
This year marks the 29th annual Candle Lighting for the TCF worldwide community; however, this will be the 30th year the Oneonta Region Chapter has hosted the Candle Lighting. This annual event provides a time to remember our departed loved ones and to acknowledge the special place they will always have in our hearts. This simple act of remembrance may help to make the holiday season more bearable. Anyone who has lost a child, grandchild or sibling of any age is welcome to attend. Other close relatives and friends are also most welcome.
Even though the official ceremony begins at 7pm, participants are encouraged to arrive at the UUSO at 6:30 pm, and to bring a small, framed picture of your child, if you are able. The photo will be placed behind one of the individual votive candles that will be arranged on our special Memory Table. During the ceremony, your family will be invited to come forward to say a few words (if you wish) and to light the candle in front of your child’s photo, at which time you will be presented with a long-stemmed rose.
While other chapters far and wide are holding their own Candle Lighting Ceremonies simultaneously, our ceremony is unique to our community and involves the sharing of a variety of music, a photo memories slideshow, poetry and personal stories contributed by many folks that you may already know. Candles will be provided, and there will be time for refreshments and conversation at the conclusion of the ceremony. This event replaces our December Sharing Session that would normally take place on the third Thursday of the month.
If you would like a photo of your child to be included in the photo memories presentation, please send a digital photo (jpeg file) by December 7 to Kathryn at [email protected]. For those who contributed a photo last year, it is not necessary to send a photo, unless you wish to replace the photo we already have.
Please note: If you're interested in sharing any music, poetry, or stories please contact Diana Friedell at 607-433-2089 or [email protected] by December 7 so that we might include you in our program. Even if you haven’t settled upon an exact reading or song, contact Diana to let her know you wish to be included.
Local artist David Geer has once again been commissioned to create original hand painted ornaments for each family to personalize with their child’s name. This year, Dave has designed an ornament bearing a simple bouquet of Forget-me-not flowers. The ornaments will be displayed on our Memory Tree during the ceremony, and they will be a gift from the Oneonta Chapter of TCF to each family in attendance.
For more information: Call Al or Kathryn Davino at 607-746-7396 or Diana Friedell at 607-433-2089. You can also send us an email at [email protected] or visit our website https://www.tcfoneonta.org.
If you’re unable to join us for the ceremony, we hope you’ll join us in spirit and light a candle to remember your child at home. You may also choose to join the virtual candle lighting found at https://www.compassionatefriends.org/, sponsored by the National TCF organization.
And though it doesn’t seem appropriate to wish you happy holidays, we wish you peaceful holidays, we wish you holidays filled with love, with tenderness, and with only good memories.
May love be what you remember most…
TCF of the Oneonta Region Steering Committee
Al Davino, Chapter Leader
Kathryn Davino, Treasurer/Secretary
Diana Friedell, Memorial Garden Co-Chair
Michael Haehnel, Memorial Garden Co-Chair
David Krzyston, Steering Committee Member
Jodi Krzyston, Steering Committee Member
Joann Kudrewicz, Steering Committee Member
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
UUSO Church, 12 ford Avenue, Oneonta, NY 13820, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
