Light Up a Life 2024
Thank you to everyone who braved the rain to come to this year’s Light Up a Life. Despite the weather, it was a very special evening of tribute to those who we love and miss. It was wonderful to speak to so many members of our local community and share thoughts and memories of those people special to us.
You can click the buttons below to view a recording of the service and the online Book of Remembrance, now updated with names added after 29th November 2024.
Join us on the day
Date: Thursday 5th December
Time: 7pm (Service lasts around 30 minutes)
Location: St Joseph’s Hospice, Mare Street, Hackney, E8 4SA
What to expect:
At Light Up a Life, we welcome people from every part of our diverse, vibrant community – people of all faiths and none. Our multi-faith service is a collection of music, readings, and hymns, bringing our community together in shared remembrance.
The most touching part of the evening is the switching on of our beautiful Remembrance tree, where each twinkling light represents someone who is loved and missed.
Anyone who has lost someone, whether recently or in the past is welcome. Please remember to dress warmly, as this is an outdoor event. There is limited seating for those unable to stand.
After the Service
After the service, you are welcome to:
- Visit our beautiful chapel and light a candle
- View the digital Book of Remembrance in our Remembrance Room, where you can also handwrite and hang a special message on our trees using our sparkly baubles
- Enjoy refreshments

Dedications
Fill in the form above to make a dedication to someone loved and missed.
Each light on the Remembrance Tree will symbolise a dedication, whilst all dedications will also be included in our online Book of Remembrance which will be on display after the service.
You will also be able to leave a personal message, which will be handwritten by our team on a gold star and put in our window to make up our “Night Sky” for the service.
If you attend on the day, you will also have the option to write a special message on a bauble to be hung up on our Dedication Trees.
If you are unable to attend, you are still welcome to make a dedication. A recording of the service and a link to Book of Remembrance will be available online to watch after the event.
Please make sure that you have made your dedication by Friday 29th November. Dedications made after this date will be added to an appendix to the Book of Remembrance and shared on this page before Christmas.

Your support is so important
Light up a Life is also a time to remember the dedication and commitment of the staff and volunteers at St Joseph’s who bring peace and comfort to our patients, many of whom are at end of life, and support their families in bereavement.
St Joseph’s Hospice receive just over half of the funding needed to provide this care from the NHS each year. We simply would not be able to provide the excellent level of care we pride ourselves on without our fantastic supporters.
By including a donation with your dedication, you will help us continue to be here – every hour of every day – for everyone who needs us. Thank you.
