Peabody Candlelight Service Draws 1K Visitors

PEABODY, MA — More than 1,000 North Shore residents came to the Puritan Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery & Crematory for a candlelight service to honor their late loved ones and share in a touch of holiday cheer.

The 32nd Annual Holiday Candlelight Service on Dec. 5 included the vigil, Christmas carols, hot cocoa and a memorial candle lighting procession.

The Tanner City Lions Club and Peabody Girl Scout Troop #72456, under the direction of Norine Lima, volunteered at this year's event.

The Masconomet High School Choir & Chorale, directed by Brian Ocock, provided acapella songs, while Chris DePiero, of Beverly, was the Master of Ceremonies.

Sheila Robinson, of Danvers, Cedalia Lima, of Peabody, Tom Mountain, of Newton, and Jack McCaughey, of Greenland, NH, contributed readings.

Father Brian McHugh of Saints Louis & Zelie Martin Parish provided the benediction.

The full service and photos can be found here.

Next year's service is scheduled for Dec. 4 at 4 p.m. at the Veterans' Flag Circle at the memorial park in Peabody. The event is always free and open to the public.

Those who would like to volunteer for Puritan Lawn events as an individual or group can send their interest to info@puritanlawn.com or call 978-535-3660.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)