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Spilsbury Mortuary is
pleased to have an Angel of Hope monument located on its south
lawn. "The Christmas
Box," a best-selling book by Utah author, Richard Paul Evans,
inspired this and other sculptures of its kind. In Mr. Evans' story, a woman in Salt Lake City mourns
the death of her daughter by making regular trips to the child's grave.
The grave
is marked with the sculpture of an angel. This sculpture evokes a profound and miraculous
connection between parent and child and helps to convey valuable lessons
concerning
the meaning of life. This story has brought hope to thousands of
parents who have suffered the loss of a child.
Although "The
Christmas Box" is mostly fiction, an actual angel monument once
existed in the Salt Lake City Cemetery but was thought to have been destroyed
by flooding. In response to reports that grieving parents were
actually seeking out the statue described in his book, Mr. Evans
commissioned an angel sculpture to stand in the Salt Lake City Cemetery in 1994.
Since its
completion, people from all over the country have come to visit the
sculpture
to seek solace for loss and hope for the future. Many people have
commissioned an Angel of Hope for their own communities.
Numerous monuments have since been erected throughout the United States
and are found in cemeteries, parks, hospitals, mortuaries, and on private
property.
The word "hope" is found on
the angel's right wing. This monument is a memorial to all children
who are gone from our sight. May those who have experienced the loss
of a child find peace and solace here. The public is welcome to visit
this monument at any time.
A community vigil
is held each year on December 6 at 7:00 p.m. and offers a chance for
grieving families to unite and find strength and comfort in each other.
A candlelight ceremony is held and those interested may place a white flower
at the base of the statue in memory of a loved one.
Although the monument is located
on mortuary property, it is a community project. Two granite walls
stand directly behind the monument, one featuring names of
deceased children and the other recognizing charitable donors.
Contributions may be made to this project in several ways:
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General
donations of any size are appreciated and contribute to the success of this
community project. |
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A $100 donation entitles you to
a porcelain miniature Angel of Hope sculpture. |
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A $250
donation entitles you to have the name of a deceased child inscribed on the
Memorial Wall. Many are providing this inscription in lieu of
flowers for funeral services or as a gift to family or friends. |
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A $300 donation entitles you to be a "Golden Donor". Your name will be
inscribed on the Contributor's Wall. |
Checks may be made
payable to the Christmas Box Angel and donations may be
mailed to 423 Vermillion Ave., St. George, UT, 84790. Please
include your name, address, and telephone number. If applicable,
please also include the name of the deceased child to be inscribed on the
Memorial Wall (applicable only with a $250 donation), or the name(s)
to be inscribed on the Contributor's Wall (applicable only with a $300
donation).
If you require additional information, please contact Diane Jennings
at 673-2167, Carol Kemple at 628-3441, or a representative from Spilsbury Mortuary
at 673-2454. | 