Welcome TO KOCH FUNERAL HOME OF SCIO

 Annual Memorial Christmas Tree Decorating is held the second Sunday in December

       “Happy Holidays” is a greeting we often hearthis time of year, but if you’re mourning the loss of a loved one the holidayseason may be anything but happy for you. Whether the death has just occurredor happened years ago there is no time of the year that we are more painfullyaware of the empty space our loved one has left behind than during the holidayseason. But how do we celebrate the holidays when our loved one is no longerhere? Creating new rituals and new traditions that pay tribute to their memoryis one way to survive- and perhaps even embrace- the holidays when a loved onehas died.

   We encourage you to cherish the memory ofthe people who were near and dear to you by inviting you and your family to ourannual Memorial Christmas Tree Decorating, in honor of those who died and insupport of those they left behind. The idea behind the Memorial Christmas Treeis to allow you a time and place to honor and remember your loved one. Wesuggest you choose an ornament to be placed on the tree that best symbolizes them.The tree is located outside the funeral home so try to choose an ornament thewill not be affected by the weather. Ornaments will remain on the tree untilthe first week in January then will be removed and place on a table on the frontporch of the funeral home for you to retrieve and take home. Any ornaments lefton the table after the first week in January will be store at the funeral homefor you to place on the tree next year. We gladly store the ornament but wecannot guarantee their condition since they are place on a tree exposed to theelements. This event is for you to remember your loved one so we do not placeornaments left at the funeral home on the tree from year to year. You may bringas many ornaments as you like, for as many loved one as you like.  If you are unable to attend at the scheduledtime please place your ornament on the tree at your convenience.

  You are also invited to stay after you haveplaced your ornament on the tree for a time of refreshments and fellowship withother families that have lost loved ones. No one is going through the exactgrief that you are experiencing but it can be comforting to know that you arenot alone. Be patient and gentile with yourself and others. Stuffing yourfeelings down deep inside does nothing but make them fester and get worse.Allowing yourself to express your feelings may be the greatest gift you giveyourself this holiday season. If you are having a difficult time coping withthe loss of a loved one there are many resources available to help and alwaysknow you can call as anytime.