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Days of Remembrance

Days of Remembrance is a 2-day event held each year for families and staff at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. This event honors the lives of the children we have lost. We gather to remember and share the many ways these children have touched our lives.

Patient families view remembrance board

Days of Remembrance includes activities and events for families. It creates opportunities for reconnection. Many family members bring photos and keepsakes to make “memory boards.” Memory boards are large poster boards that families decorate to celebrate their child’s memory.

If your family wishes to make a memory board, consider bringing some of the following items:

  • Photos of your child
  • Favorite articles of clothing
  • Small toys or stuffed animals
  • Special blankets
  • Decorative items like brightly colored paper or stickers

We will provide tape, thumbtacks, and some decorative items. Families who do not wish to make a memory board can take part in other memory-making activities. The event closes with a celebration of remembrance. It includes readings and a slideshow of the children we are remembering. St. Jude offers help with travel costs for families whose children have passed away within the last 5 years. Families eligible to attend will get an invitation by mail and/or email.

2024 Days of Remembrance Events

Days of Remembrance Family Panel

This family panel held during the 2024 Days of Remembrance event offered a 90-minute discussion on the grief journeys of some of our families. Family members shared their experiences of loss and how they find ways to keep moving forward.

Days of Remembrance Ceremony

The memorial closes out the two-day event and is a tribute to all the children honored during the 2024 Days of Remembrance.

Event contacts

Joanna A. Luttrell, MA, CCLS, CPMT
Bereavement Coordinator
Phone 901-595-2658
joanna.luttrell@stjude.org