Each summer, Mountains Community Hospital hosts a special observance to honor loved ones who have passed away. This heartfelt event, organized by the Mountains Community Hospital Auxiliary, takes place in the serene setting of the hospital’s Rose Garden, overlooking Lake Arrowhead. This year’s ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 17, from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Anyone wishing to honor a deceased family member, friend or loved one should contact
Christi Schneider at (909) 337-6940 by July 26. A suggested donation of $25 from each family will contribute toward a new rose plant for the ceremony and an engraved nameplate for each honoree. Following the sharing of memories, attendees will gather around the selected rose for the year and recite Psalm 23. Refreshments will be served after the ceremony.
For over 50 years, Mountains Community Hospital has sponsored this event, offering a wonderful opportunity to remember those who have lived and worked in our community and made a lasting impact on our lives.
History of the Rose Memorial ceremony
The tradition of the Rose Memorial ceremony began in 1951 when Sister Theresa of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange planted the original heart-shaped rose garden shortly after the hospital was built. The sisters maintained the garden until the property was sold to a nonprofit organization in 1964.
During these years, the hospital Auxiliary was also founded to assist the sisters and the hospital. In 1967, an Auxiliary member and a member of the Hilltoppers Garden Club initiated the rose garden’s renovation, dedicating hundreds of hours to this labor of love. The Hilltoppers replaced and rejuvenated the roses, expanding the garden’s areas. When the Hilltoppers disbanded in 2008, the hospital Auxiliary took over the ceremony and care of the rose garden, continuing this beautiful tradition for our mountain communities.
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