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Door County Service of Remembrance Nov. 28

In a small community where “one person touches so many lives,” three residents have created a Service of Community Remembrance to reflect on those lives Northern Door has lost in the last two years.

Greg Casperson, of Casperson Funeral Home, is one of the event’s organizers. He said that the county, and specifically Northern Door, has recently lost many people who have contributed much to its life and history. Remembering them as a community, he said, is important.

“There are a lot of people that don’t have a lot of family or a tie to a church,” he said. “This gives them a chance to reflect and realize who else has been lost in our community, whether they’re well-known or not.”

Casperson, Pastor Michael Brecke, and Joy Zakrzewski, Chaplain of the Good Samaritan Society – Scandia Village, were inspired by similar programs they’ve seen in other communities. The service will feature a reading of the names of those who have died the past two years, other readings, prayers and musical selections.

“We want it to be a time to remember, to grieve, and leave with a sense of hope,” Zakrzewski said. “We’ve limited our scope to a certain extent to Northern Door Churches, who we’ve asked to provide us with a list of those who have died, but it’s open to everyone with Door County ties.”

Zakrzewski has lived in Northern Door for eight years and said she’s been impressed by the uniquely embracing nature of the community.

“I’m amazed by the community outreach that exists here,” Zakrzewski said. “In eight years, I’ve formed more close and deep friendships here already than in 20 years in Stevens Point.”

Sponsored by the Scandia Village Good Samaritan Society, Casperson Funeral Home and Northern Door Ministerial Association, the service will be held at the Door Community Auditorium at 4 pm, Nov. 28. Casperson said he wanted to do it at the auditorium rather than a church to encourage people of all faiths to take part.

“Churches up here are more ecumenical because of the type of residents we have,” Casperson said. “They maybe retire here or move here and aren’t lifelong members of a certain church.”

People will be able to submit names for the reading on the day of the service, and names from all around the county will be accepted and read. To submit names in advance email [email protected].