About 100 people attended the Avenue of Lights lighting ceremony Saturday night at the East Side Beach in Oconto Falls. For some, the experience was bittersweet.
People who have lost loved ones often search for ways to keep their memories alive, and sponsoring a tree for the Avenue of Lights is one way to do that.
“I think it’s really special,” said Erica Beaumier, a member of the Oconto Falls Lioness Club and chair of the Avenue of Lights. “I’ve been out there when people have been out decorating their trees, and they’re sharing stories about them.”
According to Beaumier, most individuals who sponsor a tree in memory of a loved one participate year after year.
It’s a new experience, however, for the family of Dia Baldwin, the sister-in-law of Oconto Falls City Administrator Vicki Roberts. Baldwin died of cancer a year ago. Baldwin’s family wanted to commemorate her love of Christmas and decided sponsoring a tree was a perfect way to do it.
“Christmas was her favorite holiday,” Vicki Roberts said.
Baldwin’s brother, Russ Roberts, decorated the tree to honor his sister and her love of the season.
“There are 3,000 LED lights on it,” Vicki Roberts said. The family wanted the tree to “stand out” in her memory.
Last Christmas, Baldwin was too sick to go Christmas shopping and asked Russ and her sister Kriss Krause to buy the presents for her nieces, nephews and godchildren. The gifts were brought to the hospital, and Dia signed the tags on each gift.
Her hope was to survive long enough to see Christmas, but she passed away on Dec. 22.
The gifts were placed under the Christmas tree at the funeral home, and after the funeral, the children opened their personalized gifts from Dia.
Seven of Dia’s family members attended the lighting ceremony Saturday night.
This is the third year Beth Lehner has sponsored a tree in honor of her husband, Richard, who died in July 2012.
She and her husband are originally from Oconto Falls and moved back six years ago after working and living in the Chicago area for many years.
“We felt very strongly about this community and couldn’t wait to come home,” she said.
They moved into the Lehner family home on Main Street across from the river. Last year she built an addition on her home that allows her to sit inside, relax with a cup of coffee and enjoy the lights.
“I get to see this beautiful sight every night,” she said.
Sponsoring a tree was a good way to support the community, something she and Richard believed in strongly, she said. The Lioness Club decorated a large tree in memory of Richard.
On Saturday night, Beth Lehner was at home, watching the kids play in the snow while they waited for Santa.
“I could hear the music wafting up,” she said. “It’s a really, really nice activity.”
She said she got excited when she saw the lights of the fire truck and heard the siren announcing the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus.
“You don’t get that in a big city,” she said. “It warms my heart to see it.”
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