SHERMAN, TX -There were some tears shed at tonight's Light up a Life tree lighting ceremony. It allowed those to reflect on their loved ones and start their holiday season out by remembering them.

With family gathered around, 16-year-old Patrick Bellerman, a Home Hospice patient, lit this year's tree.

For 30 years now, Home Hospice of Grayson, Cooke and Fannin Counties has started the holiday season off remembering loved ones.

"it was time we decided, to put my mom on Hospice service," Paula Youree said.

While a patient goes through many changes, often it's the family members around them who need help and Home Hospice is that positive light many people are thankful for.

"They talked with my dad quite a bit because they had been married for almost 70 years and she'd been the love of his life for over 80 years. So, the hardest challenge was working with him that he was about to lose the love of his life," Youree said.

"It's very easy to get very attached to your patients. Some of them you have for a while, and some of them you don't but make a big impression on your life. I've experienced a lot of loss in my life and just kind of figured I would use my experience to help other patients and families go through what I've been through," Home Hospice employee Stefanie Riley said.

Home Hospice employee Stefanie Riley says although the job can be difficult, the thank you's she receives make it worthwhile.

"For treating their loved one as a friend as opposed to a patient. For being there for leading them and guiding them. A lot of them it's just thanking me as well as Hospice for just being there during the difficult times," Riley said.