Fairview Cemetery partners with Imagine: A Center for Coping with Loss, to host butterfly release ceremonies at different times throughout the year. The physical release of butterflies allows the continuation of our growth as an arboretum with the pollination that they provide, but the butterfly release ceremonies carry even more meaning.
The butterflies, in relation to grief, symbolically represent change, hope, and transformation. We recognize that with loss comes change, and when families are given opportunities to mourn their loss, hope and transformation can follow. In some cultures, butterflies are thought to be the living embodiment of endurance and resilience. The release of the butterflies in these ceremonies is comparable to one’s journey of grief and what they endure as they mourn their loss. We recognize that grief is hard, as is the change that butterflies endure throughout their lifespan.
Sometimes when a loss occurs, grief can bring about feelings of isolation. These ceremonies create a space where you can see you are not alone. We set an intentional shared space and moment to mourn our losses as a community. For some, this may feel like a sign from their person who died. For others, this may provide opportunities for expression and release of the heavy weight that grief carries as the actual butterflies are released. We hope that these ceremonies provide a sense of connection, community, and meaning for all of our families.