A Legacy of Connection and Community

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By Marisa Geitner

In recent months, many across Heritage Christian Services have experienced that feeling of weight that comes with loss. Each person we’ve said goodbye to has been a valued part of our community, someone who shaped daily life, deepened relationships and left a lasting imprint on those around them. 

This is also a reflection of something meaningful: people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are living longer, fuller lives. The average age of those we’ve lost this year is 69, a reminder of the progress we’ve made together and the years of connection shared along the way. 

When someone is no longer with us, their absence is felt in countless ways. On average, the people we’ve lost this season have been served by HCS for almost 23 years. That time reflects care, connection and community, and a legacy that continues to shape who we are and the work we carry forward. 

Through grief and healing, we are called to continue the work that matters most: supporting people to live the lives they choose, grounded in relationships, dignity and belonging. In that work, the legacy of those we’ve lost continues, shaping how we carry our mission forward each day.