The Waiting Place in the Community
This page includes events hosted by The Waiting Place, as well as gatherings where Patti Merrill is speaking and representing the heart of this work in the community.
Songs That Hold Us
Songs That Hold Us
A Benefit Evening Supporting The Waiting Place Foundation
Wednesday, June 3, 2026 | 7:00 PM MST
Streaming Online Through The Waiting Place Foundation
Songs That Hold Us is an evening of music, storytelling, and honest conversation featuring Patti Merrill and Whitne Strain.
Throughout the evening, Patti reflects on the loss of her daughter 31 years ago, the passing of her late husband Roland, and the experiences that shaped the vision for The Waiting Place Foundation. Together, Patti and Whitne explore the way music carries memory, grief, comfort, and connection through life’s hardest seasons.
The evening features meaningful songs including Hallelujah, Desperado, and Can’t Help Falling in Love, songs that became deeply connected to Roland, their family, and the journey of love and loss they experienced together.
More than a performance, Songs That Hold Us is an invitation into reflection, remembrance, and the kind of presence that grief often asks of us.
This special event supports the continued growth of The Waiting Place Foundation and the grief-centered spaces of support, companionship, and community we are building.
🔗 View the Event & Watch Here:
thewaitingplacefoundation.org/fundraiser
BYU Life After Loss Conference Hosted by Brigham Young University Community event featuring Patti Merrill
Patti Merrill will present Held By Promise: Grief and the God Who Stays on Saturday morning as part of the Real Talk Series at the BYU Life After Loss Conference in Provo, Utah. Attendees may register for the full conference or for Saturday only.
Sunday Fireside: When Comfort Means Staying
Patti Merrill will speak at the 1st Sunday Fireside in Santaquin, sharing “When Comfort Means Staying: Mourning with Those Who Mourn,” a reflection on presence, grief, and faithful companionship through loss.