On June 18th, more than 80 people gathered to lay down and bless three new Leaves of Remembrance around Ballard Commons Park. They were homeless, once-homeless and never-been-homeless people gathered together, and the feeling of community love and spirit was extraordinary and profound. Early on, a Bridge Care Center worker had to go across the street to St. Luke’s church to fetch a box of Kleenex. Through the afternoon, many tears of grief and joy were shed. The Ballard dedication timeline was driven by a special request made by Evelyn and Brian Gooch, parents of Dana “Fish” Gooch, whose Leaf was laid that day. Just two days after the Dedication…

On Sunday, October 12th, supporters, family, and friends gathered to witness and celebrate the dedication of 14 new Leaves of Remembrance in front of the 15th Avenue NE entrance to University Temple United Methodist Church (1415 NE 43rd). These were the first Leaves laid there! With these Leaves, we remembered these beloved community members: Bob Quinn, Chris Stevens, Renee DeWolf, Lance Loder, Frederick “Teddy” Locke, Frank Zanella, Cindi Colleen Attison, Korey Klein, John Read Avery, Russell Hennen, Joan Schaller, Michael Doubles, Michael Lovelady, and Aaron Burgess. 

On Sunday, September 28th, we held a ceremony to dedicate and place six new Leaves of Remembrance at Ballard Commons Park (57th NW/NW 22nd), during the Sustainable Ballard Festival. The new Leaves honor Jeffrey Parker Bouck, Kenny Stoddard, Will Johnson, Cecil “Marty” White Face, Michael “Mike” Sheely, and Marvin “Marv” Hosking, Jr. We also rededicated a pre-existing Leaf for Karen Lee Pedersen. We were honored that the Stoddard family traveled 350 miles, from Orville, Washington, for this dedication ceremony.

On Wednesday, September 24, 2014, following a Women in Black vigil, we laid a Leaf of Remembrance for Daryl Ford alongside several others in front of the Seattle Justice Center. His sister Connie remembers him as a gentle man who enjoyed the simple things in life, especially ice cream. We stood vigil for Mr. Ford earlier this year.

YOU’RE INVITED to THE HOMELESS REMEMBRANCE PROJECT’s “Leaves of Remembrance” Dedication in BALLARD!! Leaves of Remembrance Dedication & Reception Sunday, September 28th, 2014 3:30 PM at Ballard Commons Park (57th NW & NW 22nd) Reception to follow at Bridge Care Center (5710 22nd Ave NW) For more than a decade, The Homeless Remembrance Project–a collaborative community effort facilitated by the homeless women of WHEEL–has created places of hope, healing, and beauty to honor and remember homeless people who’ve died in King County. The Project has two parts: A beautiful “Tree of Life” sculpture and gathering place at Victor Steinbrueck Park (north of Pike Place Market), and “Leaves of Remembrance,” with names,…

On August 27, 2014, we laid new leaves to honor Lori Dillon, Jennie Wilcox, and Anna “Soso” White at Angeline’s and Lynda Van Sant and Joyce Van Hollebeke at Noel House/Bakhita Gardens. Below are photos from the ceremonies.

On August 22nd, we laid five additional leaves in Pioneer Square. Abel Gonzalez and Brandon Jeffrey Mickelson were honored at the Compass Housing Alliance, and Gerald “TC Willie” Aust, Patrick Joseph, and Arthur Lee Lassiter were each honored at DESC.

On July 25, we laid 19 leaves at the Sobering Center. Thank you to all who participated in this beautiful ritual and a special thank you to Marty who led a Native American blessing as our closing.

It was a lovely bright fall afternoon Sunday, October 13, when almost 100 people gathered at the southwest corner of Ballard Commons Park to dedicate 25 new Leaves of Remembrance.  Some were from the faith community, social services, and various professions.  Many were homeless, there to honor friends loved and lost on the streets.  One woman walked to Ballard from downtown Seattle, for the chance to see her friends publicly recognized with a bronze Leaf. Several people laid sprigs of rosemary on each friend’s Leaf.  At the end of the day, every Leaf had a sprig of rosemary beside it. One man laid a lit cigarette by his friend’s Leaf. …

Wednesday, September 11, 2013, the Homeless Remembrance Project dedicated four new Leaves at the Seattle Justice Center,  after a Women in Black vigil for nine recent homeless deaths.

More than 60 people turned up for the Dedication of seven new Leaves of Remembrance on Friday, August 16, 2013.  (Fourteen Leaves at this same location were laid last year, so there are 21 Leaves of Remembrance altogether at the site, Seattle Mennonite Church, 3120 NE 125th.)

On Friday, August 30th, we laid five Leaves in Pioneer Square in front of the Real Change Office and in front of DESC. The Leaves honor Reginald “Reggie” Thompson, Geraldine “Geri” Jones, Crystal Miranda, James “Jimmy” Mayo, & Kathy McNeilly.

On Wednesday, August 28th, we laid down six Leaves in Belltown, at Angelines and at Bakhita Gardens.  The Leaves are in remembrance of Karen Camy, India Valdez, Sarah Fraillon, Roxanne McDonald, Charlene Downey & Monica Erickson.

On Wednesday, October 10th, we dedicated forty leaves at Compass Center, Real Change, and DESC. These are photos from those dedication ceremonies.

About 60 people gathered together on June 23, 2012 at the Seattle Mennonite Church in Lake City to remember friends and loved ones who had died. Because of the weather, we weren’t able to actually affix the leaves in the sidewalk until a few weeks later. People who knew those who were being remembered read the names and shared stories and memories about their loved one. Sally Kinney led the group in a stone blessing rite, which was a wonderful celebration of the lives of 14 people.