Memorial service for COVID victims held at the Church of the Ascension – Bradford Era

During the past 18 months, a number of area families were unable to mourn loved ones who died from COVID-19 in the hospital or nursing home due to lockdowns and restrictions imposed by the pandemic.

On Tuesday, a small gathering of family members, as well as hospital staff, came together at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension to remember, mourn and honor those who died from COVID. The event was coordinated and sponsored by Bradford Regional Medical Center at Ascension, and by Olean (N.Y.) General Hospital at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels Roman Catholic Church.

Mother Stacey Fussell, pastor at Ascension, officiated the service in Bradford, and prior to the service noted there were 11 people who died at BRMC from COVID, as well as several others at nursing homes in the community.

I know of three more (people) who died in nursing homes (in the community) and never went to the hospital, Fussell said. During a funeral service for a nursing home resident who died from COVID, Fussell said she had to stay on the road to provide the service for the individual and couldnt go to the gravesite.

Fussell noted that her mother, who resides in a nursing home, also had a roommate who died from COVID.

I think this is both for the families who were unable to have full funeral services during the pandemic and for the staff who cared for and lost patients, Fussell explained. The intent is to give thanks to the lives of those lost and to remember them, and to offer support to the families and medical staff. Its very traumatic for the staff, too.

Stacy Williams, director of Annual Giving and Volunteer Services at BRMC and a member of Ascension, provided the readings and prayers during the service.

People have reached out to me to give the names of their loved ones to remember at the service, Williams said, noting there are 16 to 18 people listed.

Dr. Jill Owens, Interim, Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Clinical Operations

and Provider Relations, also spoke at the service and told the audience that at present, 4.5 million lives have been lost to COVID worldwide. Of that number, 6,050 have been lost in the United States, with 75 of those in McKean County.

Included in those numbers are healthcare workers doctors, nurses and other healthcare staff, Owens related. We share their pain and we grieve along with them for the lives that have been lost.

Owens thanked those who have put a face to the pandemic victims, which she hopes will convince others to get vaccinated.

Together well continue to educate the community on the importance of vaccination Owens stated.

Fussell followed her comments with a similar request that others consider vaccinations to help put an end to the pandemic. In further stressing her belief in vaccines, Fussell shared that her own young daughter had become quite ill with COVID and had to be hospitalized several months ago.

She also lauded the healthcare workers who have helped COVID patients who were strangers to them, but helped them fight the devastating, contagious illness even at risk to their own health.

I can tell you that there is one who grieves with us and bears with us at this time, she added in reference to God.

The service was live-streamed by Ascension on Facebook and YouTube, where it can be viewed at these sites online at Episcopal Church of the Ascension Bradford.

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Memorial service for COVID victims held at the Church of the Ascension - Bradford Era