As the sun shone onto the lawn of the tranquil courtyard, onlookers watched butterflies take flight, each one a symbol of a life lost this past year.

The ceremony was Brown County Health and Living Community’s tribute to honor the 32 residents they lost during the COVID pandemic — 23 to COVID-19, nine to other causes.

Family, friends, loved ones and staff gathered on May 13 as music played and Our Hospice of South Central Indiana Pastor Nathan Greene offered a word of prayer. The names were read of the 32 who passed away.

Greene emphasized the importance of the human connection during the pandemic. It was a time of “transformation,” and many people were not able to have personal connections during times of lockdown.

“We all went through transformation as a butterfly does,” he said.

“As we struggle to get to get out of our cocoons, life can become beautiful again.”

Tyler Motsinger, an administrator with Brown County Health and Living, said it was challenging to put into words the impact the pandemic has had on employees at the care center.

“This pandemic has tested all of us like never before,” she said. “When we say that we are a family-first senior living community, those are not just words. We live this. We live it day in and day out. Nothing could have prepared us for the onslaught of weekly, daily and hourly changes brought our way by COVID-19.”

Working remotely wasn’t an option for those work at the care center.

“The physical toll was real and the emotional toll was real. And when COVID-19 entered our community, the loss became real,” she said.

“While our associates are resilient, it would be difficult if not impossible to compartmentalize the feelings of loss,” she added.

“We are so proud of the strength, stamina, sacrifice and resilience of our associates and we are offering numerous complimentary employee assistance resources to help our teams process the trauma of the past year.”

Motsinger said they grieve the lost lives and the impact of COVID-19 and “look forward with hope to the future.”