The Nurse Honor Guard of Eastern Ohio Delta Xi Chapter makes sure that nurses receive special tributes at their funerals.

The local honor guard represents Trumbull, Mahoning and Portage counties, and has nurses honoring nurses for the service they provided during their careers. The guard recognizes their colleagues, provides comfort to their families and reminds those of their legacy of service.

Lorie Prokup of Howland, president of the nurse honor guard, said it is similar to what veterans do for fellow veterans at their funerals. The honor guard honors registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, advanced practical nurses and others.

She said the honor guard nurses wear official attire, carry a Nightingale lamp and give a biography about that nurse.

“Nursing is a very tight-knit group, and we know how to network. So we do funerals for the nurses we have worked with and who are our best friends or those who have been educators and our mentors,” Prokup said.

Prokup said at the end of the funeral service, a call of that nurse’s name occurs.

She said the nurse honor guard started performing tributes at funerals in July 2022 and have conducted 33 so far in Trumbull County. Portage County began in 2022 and Mahoning County in 2023.

Prokup said the nurse honor guard has 21 members from different hospitals.

The honor guard closes the last few minutes of calling hours when a biography of that person is presented during a Nightingale Lamp Service and the family is given a white rose that shows dignity for the nursing profession.

“Right now, we are still in an embryonic stage. The funeral directors know about us. We look at the obituaries and see if someone was a nurse who passed and we will call that funeral home and let them know about us taking part,” she said.

“Nurses take pride in the profession and we take pride in honoring the person that had the same goals and desires we had,” Sandy Chadwick of Cortland said.

The nurses have received positive feedback from the loved ones’ families.

The services take place at funeral homes, churches, other places of worship and cemeteries.

Kay O’Donnell of Champion said the nurses, often six or seven, walk into the calling hours single file carrying a lamp, candles and the roses. She said at least four nurses are needed for the ceremony.

“It can be tough to get through this at times since we have often worked with that person,” Prokup said.

Debbie Hetrick of Cortland said, “We all know that nurses give and give and give to care for others. This is a chance for us to give back to our peers, our sisters and brothers, and all they have done in the nursing profession.”

Beth Hank of Liberty said any nurse in attendance is asked to stand when the honor guard gives the final roll call.

Prokup said funeral directors in Columbiana County have expressed interest in the services the guard offers.

Marlo Tabor-Gregory of Canfield said nurses are being recruited in Columbiana County.

“I saw them at my friend’s funeral. When I saw the nurse honor guard walk in, I cried. It was absolutely beautiful. Her daughter said the nurse honor guard helped give her closure when her mother died. She was honored that the nurses took the time to honor her mother and show she was a great nurse,” Tabor-Gregory said.

She said after that, she decided to be part of the group.

Prokup said future plans include tributes for nurses who are patients at the end of their life but who can still participate. The group also attends birthday parties for older nurses.

Casey Machak of Niles said 250 nurse honor guard chapters can be found in 48 states.

Prokup said the group meets quarterly and started with five members, but it grew quickly.

“Many of us went to school at Trumbull Memorial School of Nursing. We have spoken to alumni who have joined. Now there are 21 of us,” she said.

Hetrick said she feels blessed to be part of the group and be able to honor fellow nurses.

“It’s very humbling to know one day this can be me,” she said.

To volunteer as a nurse honor guard, one must be a registered or practical nurse, active or retired, and have the ability to travel to services.