Central Wyoming Hospice comforted 28-year-old Jason Albrecht and his family as he dealt with brain cancer. Since he died March 8, hospice has found ways to continue to help his family through this difficult year.

Roger and Carol Albrecht received an invitation for a candlelight remembrance ceremony sponsored by hospice and Wyoming Medical Center.

About twice a year, the two entities hold a ceremony where the public can remember people who have died recently, said the Rev. Ellis Kaster, chaplain at the hospital.

"It's very simple," Kaster said. "It's not a special kind of religion, just a tribute to say, 'We remember you.'"

He said the events help people grow and maintain a culture of community.

The Rev. Royce Brown, chaplain at hospice, was worried many people wouldn't come because the vice presidential debate was on television. Still, more than 30 people gathered at First United Methodist Church downtown for the ceremony Thursday evening.

The Albrechts drove 90 minutes from Shoshoni and said "it was very comforting." They both cried during the ceremony.

The Rev. Steve Burnett, who also spoke Thursday evening, said he misses his 92-year-old mother, who died May 30.

"She lived in a different city, a different state so a Sunday night phone call became a ritual," Burnett said. Now, after he comes home from a long Sunday of work, he wants to call her.

As the clergy read the names of about 200 people, family members lit candles for their loved ones. If a family member wasn't present, Kaster or Brown lit one.

Besides the occasional rumble of a motorcycle or music coming from a car on Second Street, the ceremony was peaceful and quiet.

"It was beautiful," Carol Albrecht said.

"The church was beautiful," her husband said.

The couple said their son's death is still "very new" for them and they find it difficult to talk about their son.

Kaster remembers many of the people on the program list.

"I remember this one," Kaster said as he pointed to Shane Ballard's name on the program. "I married him and I buried him."

Kaster married Ballard and his wife while Ballard was in the hospital fighting cancer. Ballard died in August.

About another woman, he said he walked "many, many miles with her" and described how helping people deal with death is a journey.

"They made me who I am," Kaster said. "They fight the good fight, and I share that with them."

Contact health reporter Allison Rupp at (307) 266-0534 or allison.rupp@trib.com.