Event will give Bradenton a chance to mourn COVID losses

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — In the 10 months since Nick Fazzina died from COVID-19 at Blake Medical Center, his family has never been able to properly mourn his passing, or even have a funeral.

Unfortunately, that scenario was repeated often in Manatee County. COVID-19 has sickened more than 39,000 people and claimed more than 680 lives in the county.

It is for a community just now emerging from the worst days of the pandemic that Tidewell Hospice and Tidewell Foundation have announced a community celebration of life 6-7 p.m. June 17 at the Bradenton Riverwalk Amphitheater, 606 Third Ave. W.

Nick Fazzina’s widow, Betsey, plans to attend.

“I think it is really appropriate way for people to grieve. You don’t get closure until you have had a chance to mourn,” she said.

This August, the Fazzina family will get together for a funeral with military honors for Nick Fazzina.

“It was his dying wish to have a military funeral and it was my promise to do that,” Betsey said.

Tidewell, provider of free grief services for the community, decided to hold the celebration of life for the many survivors who are struggling with unprocessed grief due to the loss of a loved one.

Funerals, celebrations of life, weddings and more fell victim to the pandemic, as did countless jobs, while pressure mounted on food banks to feed the hungry.

“We just had so many people who told us they needed closure,” Debbie Mason, president of the Tidewell Foundation, said.

Although the June 17 ceremony won’t be religious, it will provide a spiritual grief release to start on the path to renewal, Mason said.

A brief ceremony is planned, starting with the playing of music as guests arrive. Tidewell’s grief service team will read the names of loved ones lost during...