Brunner Funeral Home's Tree of Remembrance Ceremony in Mentor honors loved ones lost

Marah Morrison, The News-Herald, Willoughby, Ohio
·2 min read

Dec. 4—As part of Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home and Cremation Center's 32nd Annual Tree of Remembrance Memorial Service, nearly 400 names were read aloud as family members and friends placed an ornament on the funeral home's outdoor tree.

The service took place Dec. 4 at 8466 Mentor Ave. With roughly 250 to 300 people in attendance, this year's service was one of the better turnouts the funeral home has had, according to Adam Sanden, president.

"It's sunny out and it's not terribly cold, so the parking lot tells me it's more busy than it's ever been," he said.

Back in the 1990s, Sanden's parents, aunt, uncle and grandparents came up with the remembrance tree. It started off as a small way to remember the families the funeral home served over the past year. Since that time, the service has grown.

"The families we serve throughout the year enjoy being able to come together every year to remember their loved ones," Sanden said. "It's an opportunity for families to pay respects to their loved ones, hang an ornament on the tree in remembrance and then we'll light the tree at the end of the event. It'll stay lit throughout the holiday season."

The tree service was canceled for one year due to the pandemic and the following year, it was brought back with social distancing in place. Last year was the first year back to full capacity.

"It did have an effect and we actually got several messages of, 'We're sad to see it not happening,' but they understood," Sanden said. "We're happy to be back at full capacity."

With most people taking a prayer card home or laminating a copy of an obituary, families believe the tree service is a unique way to remember a loved one, Sanden said.

"It's nice because if you're local, as you drive by throughout the holiday season, you get to remember your loved one, especially for those families who might being going through the season for the first time without their loved one," Sanden said.

Built in 1845, the funeral home has attained distinction as a local landmark. Established in 1949 by Raymond V. and Helen L. Brunner, the company has grown to be the largest funeral home in Lake County.