Joseph Fernandez
Joseph Francis
Joseph Walling
Scott Matthew Walling
Justin Gambrell
Justin Lucas Niswonger
Justin McCurdy
Justin Ratliff
Linda Ratliff
Justin Whitt
Justus Posey
Kalman Kolotkin-Harlow
Karen Hendrickson
Ke’Andrae Thomas
Keith Richard Grimme
Kelli Withrow
Kevin Arnett
Andrew Zachary Arnett
Kyle Lister
Kyle Morgan
Lana T. Knorr
Madison “Maddy” Richards
Makayla Leilani Rhiner
Marcus Bowling
Mark Wenclewicz
Mary Taulbee
Matthew K. Schleich
Melodey Chandler
Michael David Kraus
Michael Jacob McGrath
Molly Beth Louis
Nathan Darr
Nathan Griffith
Noah Meija
Phoebe Eloise Manley
Rachael Jones
Rachel Abigail Ramsey
Rashad Lateef Burnley
Rob Kaminski
Ronnie Bowers
Ryan Beaty
Ryan Gilhooly
Sarah Renee’ Rhoads
Scott Freiberger
Seth Vision
Shane English II
Shannon Keith Mason
Shelby McMahan
Sherena Richter
Stephanie Clark
Steve Carnegis
Sung K. Hipple
Susan Sharp Crago
Susan Holcomb Lerner
Tera Davis
Theodore Clark Nelson
Thomas Joseph Dingler
Christian Alfonso
Trent Weiss
Trishia White
Tristan Hooper
Zachary Schaeffer
We also remember those babies who died and were named only in their parents’ hearts.
2023 Miami Valley Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting
December 10, 2023 beginning at 6:59pm, Live music begins at 6:30
Sugar Creek Presbyterian Church Kettering, Ohio
The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting on the 2nd Sunday in December unites family and
friends around the globe in lighting candles for one hour to honor the memories of the sons, daughters,
brothers, sisters, and grandchildren who left too soon. As candles are lit on December 10th, 2023 at 7:00
pm local time, hundreds of thousands of people commemorate and honor the memory of all children gone
too soon.
Now believed to be the largest mass candle lighting on the globe, the annual Worldwide Candle Lighting
(WCL), a gift to the bereavement community from The Compassionate Friends, creates a virtual 24-hour
wave of light as it moves from time zone to time zone. TCF’s WCL started in the United States in 1997 as a
small internet observance and has since swelled in numbers as word has spread throughout the world of
the remembrance. Hundreds of formal candle lighting events are held, and thousands of informal candle
lightings are conducted in homes, as families gather in quiet remembrance of children who have died and
will never be forgotten.
Our chapter participates in this event uniting families and friends everywhere with a beautiful program of
music, readings, and lighting candles to honor the memories of our children, siblings and grandchildren.
Afterwards, we’ll gather for food and fellowship. Bringing a dish to share is not required, but is very much
appreciated!
In addition to our in-person program, there will be a Live Stream available from our website and a video
copy available for viewing after the event.
If you want a PDF copy of this years program you can download that here
Danny Voris
Richard Miller
Candle Lit by Tina Grimme
Dolly Bruner & Kathy Beaty (Candle Lit by Tina Grimme)
Charles Francis
JoAnn Nielson
David Wood
Rachel & Joe Niswonger
Karen Taylor-Good
Yolanda Pegg
Mary Miller & Jen Albrecht
Dolly Bruner
Trinidad Francis
Richard Miller
Karen Wireman-Brown
Candle Lighting Remembrance Ceremony
December 10, 2023 7:00 PM
Instrumental Prelude
Introduction & Welcome
World Wide Candle Lighting
Reading: “Four Candles”
Reading: "In This Place"
Grandparents Grief
Sibling Reading
Song: "Tears in Heaven"
Reading: "I'm Home"
Song: "Precious Child"
Reading: "Remember Me"
Candle Lighting Ceremony
Reading of Names
Placing of Candles
Bell Ringer
Video Presentation
Moment of Reflection
Reading: "The Compassionate Friends Credo"
Adam Sommerhause
Adele Schlamersdorf
Alex Myers
Alex Wilcox
Alex Wood
Amanda Brooke Worley
Amy Webeck
Andrew Haas
Ashley Matheson
Ashley M. Wormsby
Austin Siler
Austin Singletary
Belle Marck
Bianca Tala Bepler
Brad Miller
Brett Hobbs
Robert Hughes
Brian Terry
Bryan David Holl
Brittane Henderson
Brooklyn VanSkoyck
Caleb Baker
Cameron & Keaton Schneider
Caresse Amber Crotty
Carter Kelb
Chad Gibson
Chris Mason
Corey Andrew Richards
Nathan Daniel Davidson
Cortney Rogers
Courtney Trent-Daley
Dalton Fletcher
Garrett McCollough
Darlene Whitman Armitage
David Allbery
Danny Allbery
Kathy Sabia
David Knowles
David McKinniss
David Michael Jennings
David Vantrease
Denis Jacob
Donnie Grzywinski
Dylan Coffman
Matthew Pratt
Elizabeth Ann Fargey
Elizabeth Ann Lawrence
Erin M. Quigley
Doug Brunner
Evan Rey Henry-Singleton
Farley Minor
Frank Elliott Paxson
Graeson Riley Rutman
Gwendolyn Mooney
Heather Marie Daniels
Isaac Matthew Reeser
Jacob & Ryan Knapke
Jacob Derek Polete
Jaxxen Baker
Jeff S. Clark
Jeffrey Scott Bernard
Jessica Black
Mary Duckett
Jessica Bruchey
Jessica Laycox
Jimmy Blanton II
Joe Gschwender
Jonathan Reiff