Details for our fourth annual Violet's Light

PLEASE NOTE: Our fourth annual Violet's Light candlelit vigil and luminaria ceremony will be held at a different location this year. We have reserved the pavilion at Concord Woods Nature Center in Concord Township to meet together this year.

When: Wednesday 10/15/2014 at 7:30 pm
 
Where: The pavilion at Concord Woods Nature Center, a Lake Metroparks park located at: 11211 Spear Road Concord Township, OH 44077. Open parking is available next to the pavilion.

If you'd like a name added to the list and a luminary bag with your baby's name you can email me ahead of time at violetslight@gmail.com, or send me a message on facebook.

You don't have to live in Northeast Ohio to participate! You can have a baby honored no matter where in the world you are. Each year we have had babies honored from all over the world. If you have any questions, please email me. 

Thank you all for your support, and for coming together with us for a time of remembrance each year.

Our Third Annual Violet's Light

Our third annual Violet's Light candlelight vigil and luminaria ceremony will be held in Willoughby again this year.

When: Tuesday 10/15/2013 at 7:00 pm
Where: Wes Point Park in downtown Willoughby Ohio. Across from 1 Public Square Willoughby, OH 44094. We will be holding the ceremony in the Gazebo. Street parking is available. There are also marked public parking lots.

If you'd like a name added to the list and a luminary bag with your baby's name you can email me ahead of time at violetslight@gmail.com, or send me a message on facebook,

You don't have to live in Northeast Ohio to participate! You can have a baby honored no matter where in the world you are. Last year we had babies honored from all over the world. If you have any questions, please email me.

Details for our Second Annual Violet's Light

Our Second Annual Violet's Light 

Candlelight Vigil and Luminaria Ceremony 

Contact name: Amy Neff

Contact email: violetslight@gmail.com

When: Monday 10/15/2012 at 6:30 pm

Where:  Wes Point Park in downtown Willoughby, Ohio. Across from 1 Public Square Willoughby, OH 44094. We will be holding the ceremony in the Gazebo. Street parking is available. There are also marked public parking lots.

A gathering of remembrance created in honor of my niece, Violet Evelyn Ochoa, who was born still on August 12th, 2011. This event is to honor the babies who were taken too soon from pregnancy or infant loss. We will be meeting at 6:30 to share our stories and have a candlelight vigil starting at 7:00 pm.  This year we will also have luminary bags in memory of our babies and we will be reading the names of the babies we've lost. If you'd like a name added to the list and a luminary bag with your baby's name you can email me ahead of time at violetslight@gmail.com or we can always add it before we start. 

You don't have to live in Northeast Ohio to participate.  Anyone can have a baby honored, no matter where in the world you are.

Violet's Nine Month Birthday

For Violet's nine month birthday, May 12th, we all went to the Holden Arboretum.

Violet's Mommy and Daddy 

Amber and Violet

And that evening we did a balloon release at sunset. 

Releasing the balloons and the card they got for Violet. 

Willoughby Commemorative Tree Program

For the one year anniversary of Violet's birth we are planning on having a tree planted for her.  Our town, Willoughby, Ohio, has something called the Commemorative Tree Program where you can have a tree planted in the spot of your choosing in honor or memory of a loved one.  The price includes the tree, the planting, and a personalized plaque. If you are interested in participating, or interested in having a tree planted in honor of a loved one, please email me: violetslight@gmail.com

Also, I am always taking names for this year's Violet's Light, which will be on October 15th. I will update this with more information on what we will be doing this year for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day as plans are made.

Thank you all so much.

 For more info:
willoughbyohio.com/rec_dept/forms/2008_commemorative_tree.pdfg

Video From The First Annual Violet's Light

Violet’s Light Balloon Release Ceremony in Hawaii

If you have submitted a name to be read at the Willoughby Ohio memorial vigil, that name will also be included in our Balloon Release Ceremony on the beach at sunset in Hawaii on October 15th. Each balloon will have the name of a baby written on it in remembrance.

If you would like anything else written on the balloon (such as a note, a quote, a date, or anything you wish) we can include that, too. If you would like to request a specific color balloon you can do that also.

It’s not too late to participate! If you would like to honor a baby lost through miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss please email violetslight@gmail.com

We will continue to add names for the Balloon Release until October 14th.

Notes From Baby Angel Grace

Marian Behnke, the author of the book Notes From Baby Angel Grace, has very graciously offered to donate copies of her book to Violet's Light.

We will have copies available for free at the memorial ceremony on October 15th.

As always, if you are unable to attend the event on October 15th, but would like a free copy of Notes From Baby Angel Grace
please email me at violetslight@gmail.com

I would like to truly thank Marian Behnke for her generosity and support.

I would also like to thank my aunt, Tammy Gregg, for ALL of the support, help, and love she has brought to us and Violet's Light.

october15th.com

Violet's Light has been added to the list of activities and walks on the official website for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day. The direct link is: http://www.october15th.com/activities_walks.htm

If you scroll down to Ohio activities you will see it listed.

Here is the info:

Violet's Light Candlelight Vigil
Contact name: Amy Neff
Contact email: violetslight@gmail.com

Saturday 10/15/2011
6:30-7:30 pm

Wes Point Park in downtown Willoughby Ohio. Across from 1 Public Square Willoughby, OH 44094. We will be meeting at the Gazebo. Street parking is available. There are also marked public parking lots.

A gathering of remembrance created in honor of my niece, Violet Evelyn Ochoa who was born still on August 12th, 2011. This event is to honor the babies who were taken too soon from pregnancy or infant loss. We will be meeting at 6:30 to share our stories, give out pregnancy and infant loss ribbons, and have a candlelight vigil starting at 7:00 pm. We will be reading the names of the babies we've lost. If you'd like a name added to the list, you can email me ahead of time at violetslight@gmail.com or we can always add it before we start. Please bring a candle if you wish to participate in the vigil. If you are unable to we will have extra candles available for use.

You Can Participate Too!

You don't have to live in Ohio to be included in Violet's Light. If you have suffered a pregnancy or infant loss and would like your baby's name to be read at the vigil on October 15th, email violetslight@gmail.com

First Annual Violet's Light Candlelight Vigil

The First Annual Violet's Light will take place from 6:30-7:30 pm on Saturday October 15th, 2011 at Wes Point park in downtown Willoughby, Ohio. A candlelight vigil will be held at 7:00 pm to honor the memories of all babies lost through miscarriage, stillbirth, and SIDS.

I am trying to get news of the event out to the community through craigslist, facebook, phone calls, flyers, etc. This event was planned on very short notice this year, so it very well may just be me, standing in the park, holding one candle all by myself. But hey, you've gotta start somewhere!

Next year's Violet's Light event will be much larger. I am already planning on reserving the bandstand in Wes Point park, creating luminary bags for everyone in attendance, and hopefully having a band or choir. Maybe even having a walk-a-thon one day. I will have much more time to plan and organize for next year's event.

If you are interested in coming to this years very simple vigil, please email me at violetslight@gmail.com.

I am very much looking forward to organizing and planning this event, and watching it grow year after year.

About Violet's Light

Violet's Light is an event created to take place every year on the evening of October 15th. This event is in honor of my niece, Violet Evelyn Ochoa who was born still on 8/12/2011.

After the devastating news of Violet's passing, I actively searched for ways to honor her memory. I discovered that October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month, and October 15th is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day. I thought that there must be something that would be taking place on that day, where I could go and honor her memory. To my surprise, there are absolutely no events that I could find in Northeast Ohio to commemorate that day. I called both of the local children's hospitals, and spoke with their event coordinators. They both told me that they had not even heard of that day. I called and spoke with the secretary of the mayor of Willoughby. She also said that our community had no known events for this particular day. I searched surrounding communities, online groups and forums, and still found nothing. So, Violet's Light was created to not only honor my beautiful niece, but also give a time of remembrance to members of my community, and all communities in Northeast Ohio who have suffered pregnancy or infant loss.