While there wasn't exactly what one would call an overwhelming turnout to the lighting ceremony at a mortuary Saturday evening, people who did show up were treated to beautiful lights and . . . Santa Claus.
Over the past few years, owners of Redwood Memorial Estates have celebrated the Christmas season by stringing thousands of Christmas lights throughout the mortuary and cemetery grounds. This year, they decided to start an annual tradition and hold a lighting ceremony.Manager Rowen C. Jones said the decision to hold the ceremony was made two weeks ago by George Quist, president of Security National Financial Corp., owners of the estate. Newly elected West Jordan Mayor Ken Miller was invited to perform the lighting honors, and Santa Claus was on hand to take Christmas wishes from young and old.
Santa said when he was first asked to help light up the decorations at the mortuary, he thought it was a little odd.
"I thought somebody had decided my time had come," he said.
But Santa said even though the request was a little unusual, he is glad to have been on hand for the lighting and hopes that he will become part of the yearly tradition. And while some people might believe that Santa and cemeteries just don't mix, Cindy Rae Mueller, a counselor at Redwood Memorial Estates, said they are trying to change the longstanding feelings of scariness and sadness that are associated with cemeteries.
"We are trying to make the cemetery a place for the living, not for the dead," she said.
Mueller, who became familiar with the mortuary's different approach when a friend was buried in 1987, said she likes the idea of Santa at the mortuary.
"It makes people you've lost in the past become a part of the present," she said.
And she said in addition to the Christmas ceremony, Redwood Memorial Estates holds a Memorial Day service with choirs and bands that are designated to help people remember instead of grieve.
She said the ceremonies and beautifully kept landscape are serving their purpose. "You can walk in our cemetery at night and not be afraid," Mueller said.
Miller believes the lighting ceremony is a great idea.
He said the lights are beautiful and have added to the city of West Jordan for several years.
"It makes a nice entranceway to our city," he said.
Mueller said she hopes the lighting ceremony will grow into a yearly tradition that the citizens of West Jordan look forward to.