Mountains Community Health Rose Ceremony

Description

Mountains Community Health will continue a long-standing mountain tradition with its annual Rose Memorial Ceremony on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. in the Mountains Community Health Rose Garden. Sponsored by the MCH Auxiliary and Mountains Community Health, the ceremony provides families and friends with a meaningful opportunity to honor loved ones who have passed away. Set in the hospital’s Rose Garden overlooking Lake Arrowhead, the gathering offers a peaceful place to reflect, share memories, and remember those who have touched our lives. Those honored during the ceremony will also have their names displayed on a memorial board located inside Mountains Community Health, creating a lasting tribute within the hospital. Anyone wishing to honor a loved one or friend is asked to contact Christi Schneider at (909) 337-6940 by October 10, 2026. A suggested donation of $25 per family helps support the care of the Rose Garden and the purchase of a new rose plant for the ceremony. During the gathering, participants will have an opportunity to share memories, recognize the rose selected for the year, and recite Psalm 23 together. Refreshments will be served following the ceremony. The Rose Memorial Ceremony has been part of the hospital’s history for more than 50 years, with roots dating back to the early days of the hospital. The original heart-shaped Rose Garden was created by Sister Theresa of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, who cared for the garden until the property was sold to a nonprofit organization in 1964. The hospital Auxiliary was also founded during these early years to assist the sisters and support the hospital. In 1967, an Auxiliary member who was also part of the Hilltoppers Garden Club helped lead a major renovation of the Rose Garden, dedicating hundreds of hours to restoring and expanding the space. The Hilltoppers continued their involvement for decades before disbanding in 2008. Since then, the MCH Auxiliary has carried on the Rose Memorial Ceremony, while Mountains Community Health continues to care for the garden. Today, the ceremony remains a treasured mountain tradition and a lasting way to celebrate the lives and memories of loved ones. For more information or to have a loved one honored, contact Christi Schneider at (909) 337-6940 by October 10, 2026.