'Remember The Love And The Hope:’ Counseling Group Plans Ceremony For Those Lost To Substance Abuse

LEVITTOWN, NY. — YES Community Counseling will be holding its, "Lights of Hope For The Holidays Remembrance Ceremony" at its Levittown space at 7 p.m. on Dec. 8. The ceremony will feature music, poetry and candle-lighting in memory of community members’ loved ones who have died from substance abuse.

Organizing the ceremony is Kathleen Coletta, who facilitates a monthly support group for people grieving loved ones whose deaths came as a result of substance abuse. In past years, the ceremony has been held around Opioid Awareness Day on Aug. 31, but this year's edition will be at a slightly different time: The holidays, when people across Long Island are feeling the pain and loss of those they love so deeply.

When asked if she has noticed people having a harder time with grief during the holiday season, Coletta said she had, citing the complicated feelings many people confront around the holidays and the complicated feelings substance abuse death can bring for families.

“[Families are] trying to balance, you know, embracing the memories and embracing their loss all at the same time,” Coletta said. “And this is a very complicated type of loss, so we want to help people be in a place where there’s solidarity with others who understand this kind of loss. And to really just be in a place that feels safe, and healing for them.”

As for what attendees will see at the ceremony, Coletta said mentioned that this year's ceremony will feature a duet performance of "For Good," the song from the Tony-Award-winning musical, "Wicked," and the film duo of the same name.

“When everybody comes in we give them a placecard to put their loved one’s name in front of their picture, and we have them put it on a table. And then every family is given one of those electronic candles,” Coletta said. “The ceremony is very simple, we do meaningful poems, and then we ask every family to come up one at a time and put the candle in front of their loved one’s frame. And we end up with a whole table, it’s very beautiful, of their loved ones, their names, and a candle in front of them.”

While the table will be covered in photos and names of the loved ones people have lost, Coletta said the night is really meant to help the people lighting the candles.

“This type of loss, people, there’s a lot going on for them and their feelings,” Coletta said. “That’s what we speak about, and it takes courage to even come. And we know that the people that are coming are there, and we want to remember the love and the hope.”