The passing of a loved one can be one of life’s most difficult experience, one filled with grief and emotional pain. Community Home Care and Hospice (CHCH) of Washington is hosting an event with a different mindset in respect to death.

Community Hospice will host its inaugural Butterfly Release Memorial Celebration Service next week, inviting the community to come out and celebrate the life of their loved ones who have passed away, according to hospice care coordinator, Amy Brewer.

Brewer said there will be two tents set up outside the business where staff and community residents will gather to release 60 butterflies in honor or memory of families who have lost loved ones. The butterflies were ordered from Swallowtail Farms, which has been doing butterfly releases for weddings, funerals and other events for about 23 years, according to Nikimi Hamilton, director of CHCH. The community is encouraged to attend, whether they have been served by CHCH or not, according to Brewer.

“This is for anyone who has experienced a loss in our community,” Brewer said.

In the past, the business has hosted memorial services at various churches, as well as the gazebo at Festival Park, according to Hamilton.

“We didn’t have a large turnout (at previous events). … We were getting some feedback that people were feeling like they were having to grieve all over again so we decided, in order to highlight our celebration of life, this is going to replace our usual fall memorial program with a celebration of life — something that’s more upbeat and family friendly in a neutral environment where people will feel more comfortable and people will see we’re really about celebrating life.”

Hamilton said one of the reasons they chose to move the annual service from fall to spring is because of extended sunlight hours, making it possible for those who don’t like to drive after dark to attend.

As spring is a time of regeneration, and butterflies symbolize rebirth, the event and season seemed appropriate, according to Hamilton.

“We’re just trying something new, hoping it will be a success and encouraging everyone in the community to come out,” Hamilton said. “Spring is just that time of regeneration of life and new life so we decided that it would be a good time to switch from a memorial service to a celebration of life. This is about celebrating the life of loved ones who have gone on before us and the joy they brought into their lives and their family’s lives, and we feel that theme is in accordance with springtime and the regeneration of life. When you look at the life cycle of butterflies, it starts out, and as it matures, it’s essentially a death and then a rebirth of something majestic and beautiful.”

The event is set for May 25 at 3 p.m. at Community Home Care and Hospice.

Community Home Care and Hospice is located at 814 Washington St. in Washington.