Your Stories: Saint Francis Auxiliary Honors Memories in Remembrance Way

The 2025 Remembrance Way ceremony will take place on Wednesday, June 18 at 1:30 p.m. in the Saint Francis Rotunda.

It’s also an opportunity the Auxiliary provides for the Saint Francis Hospital community: personalized engraved paver bricks, installed annually in the Remembrance Way Garden, located just outside the main entrance of Saint Francis. Each year, the Auxiliary hosts a dedication ceremony for those memorialized or honored within the past 12 months. This year’s celebration will take place on Wednesday, June 18, at 1:30 p.m., the Saint Francis Rotunda.

The tradition began nearly a quarter of a century ago in 2001 under the leadership of then-President and CEO of Saint Francis, David D’Eramo, Ph.D. While Remembrance Garden had been created in 1996 in conjunction with the new Patient Care Tower and Woodland Street entrance to the hospital, the paths consisted only of crushed stones. Members of the Auxiliary conceived of a way to beautify the garden entrance with personalized, engraved Remembrance stones to honor a friend, relative, colleague, or caregiver, or to memorialize a loved one who had passed. Engraved bricks may also mark a joyful event, such as the birth of a child, a milestone birthday, a special anniversary, or a graduation. The purchase of the bricks provides funds used to support patient care at Saint Francis and Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital.

“The dedication ceremony has always been a very moving event,” notes Ranjana Chawla, President of the Auxiliary. “We have music, and as we call out the names on the newly installed bricks, we hand out a yellow rose to the families of those memorialized as well as to those honored.”

The Auxiliary invites those strolling through the garden to take a moment to peruse the names and dates of those memorialized, honored, and cherished, recognizing friends and associates past and present. 

Orders for Remembrance Way Bricks will be accepted through April 7. If you are interested in purchasing a brick, please CLICK HERE for the Remembrance Way order form.

Submitted by Susan Joyse, Vice President, Auxiliary of Saint Francis.

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