the kin-soul™ story |
Isn’t it heartbreaking when an immediate family member goes unnoticed at a funeral? Imagine finding out the person you stood next to during the visitation was actually the deceased’s sister. And funeral directors scrambling to identify the pallbearers just shouldn’t happen. This is what inspired me to create Kin-Soul.
As a certified Event Professional, I was once tasked with organizing a family reunion for a young mother with terminal cancer. She wanted her children to meet and bond with their distant cousins. Unfortunately, instead of celebrating the reunion, family members gathered for her funeral. My role shifted from planning a joyful reunion to attending a funeral, with the goal of providing comfort to her sister, with whom I had developed a close connection through our correspondence.
On the day of the visitation, I walked into a crowded funeral home. Since I had only known my client, I struggled to identify her immediate family among the attendees. No one stood out, and any of them could have been her husband, mother, or sister. I searched for familiar faces resembling my client’s. I noticed several women embracing and weeping—could one of them be her sister or mother? A group of women around my client’s age caught my eye—was her sister among them?
With no leads, I approached some associates, hoping they could help identify the sister. To my dismay, they were unaware that she had a sister and asked if I knew of her parents’ presence. Frustrated and unable to offer solace to her immediate family, I left, hoping to connect with her at the funeral service the following morning.
The next day, in a packed chapel, a woman approached the pulpit and said, "My sister wrote this letter." I was taken aback, filled with sadness and anger; I had seen this woman the day before at the visitation, standing alone on the funeral home's porch. Unrecognized and isolated, she mourned in solitude. My mind raced with questions. How did this happen? How is this possible? It’s incredibly sad. A mourning period is not a time for anyone to introduce themselves; it’s our responsibility to assist in the healing process by comforting them.
In the days that followed, I heard more unfortunate stories. A man flew home for his father’s funeral, but since he didn’t grow up in his father’s home, the visitors didn’t recognize him. A funeral director shared about a grandmother who sat alone at a visitation, unnoticed by guests. Another couple found out days later that the son they had comforted was actually with the wife of the deceased. I’m sure someone close to you has shared similar experiences, as I hear them often.
My experience and the stories that followed have inspired me to create Kin-Soul™, a token designed to be worn close to the heart by the immediate family members (listed in the obituary) during a funeral service, memorial, celebration of life, or any period of mourning.
Kin-Soul serves as a symbol of respect and tribute to their departed loved one, worn with honor, as well as a silent indication of their need for consolation and comfort. Kin-Soul provides individuals with a means to express their grief and begin the healing process. Once worn, Kin-Soul™ becomes a keepsake bookmark and a personalized detachable pendant suitable for a necklace, keychain, or other uses, providing a comforting presence that lasts a lifetime.
Through the Kin-Soul process, I've developed a deep admiration for the compassion and commitment of those in the death care industry. They truly prioritize the families they serve. I'm grateful to the funeral professionals for their valuable insights and contributions to Kin-Soul™, as well as to the public for sharing their stories and the reasons behind their support for Kin-Soul™.
I hope Kin-Soul’s mission connects with you. Join me, along with funeral homes, death care providers, and supporters, in making Kin-Soul™ a meaningful presence in the deathcare industry as a source of comfort and tribute.
In Memory of Frank J. Urosek,
Proudly Frank's Daughter-Kimberly
Founder of Kin-Soul™
As a certified Event Professional, I was once tasked with organizing a family reunion for a young mother with terminal cancer. She wanted her children to meet and bond with their distant cousins. Unfortunately, instead of celebrating the reunion, family members gathered for her funeral. My role shifted from planning a joyful reunion to attending a funeral, with the goal of providing comfort to her sister, with whom I had developed a close connection through our correspondence.
On the day of the visitation, I walked into a crowded funeral home. Since I had only known my client, I struggled to identify her immediate family among the attendees. No one stood out, and any of them could have been her husband, mother, or sister. I searched for familiar faces resembling my client’s. I noticed several women embracing and weeping—could one of them be her sister or mother? A group of women around my client’s age caught my eye—was her sister among them?
With no leads, I approached some associates, hoping they could help identify the sister. To my dismay, they were unaware that she had a sister and asked if I knew of her parents’ presence. Frustrated and unable to offer solace to her immediate family, I left, hoping to connect with her at the funeral service the following morning.
The next day, in a packed chapel, a woman approached the pulpit and said, "My sister wrote this letter." I was taken aback, filled with sadness and anger; I had seen this woman the day before at the visitation, standing alone on the funeral home's porch. Unrecognized and isolated, she mourned in solitude. My mind raced with questions. How did this happen? How is this possible? It’s incredibly sad. A mourning period is not a time for anyone to introduce themselves; it’s our responsibility to assist in the healing process by comforting them.
In the days that followed, I heard more unfortunate stories. A man flew home for his father’s funeral, but since he didn’t grow up in his father’s home, the visitors didn’t recognize him. A funeral director shared about a grandmother who sat alone at a visitation, unnoticed by guests. Another couple found out days later that the son they had comforted was actually with the wife of the deceased. I’m sure someone close to you has shared similar experiences, as I hear them often.
My experience and the stories that followed have inspired me to create Kin-Soul™, a token designed to be worn close to the heart by the immediate family members (listed in the obituary) during a funeral service, memorial, celebration of life, or any period of mourning.
Kin-Soul serves as a symbol of respect and tribute to their departed loved one, worn with honor, as well as a silent indication of their need for consolation and comfort. Kin-Soul provides individuals with a means to express their grief and begin the healing process. Once worn, Kin-Soul™ becomes a keepsake bookmark and a personalized detachable pendant suitable for a necklace, keychain, or other uses, providing a comforting presence that lasts a lifetime.
Through the Kin-Soul process, I've developed a deep admiration for the compassion and commitment of those in the death care industry. They truly prioritize the families they serve. I'm grateful to the funeral professionals for their valuable insights and contributions to Kin-Soul™, as well as to the public for sharing their stories and the reasons behind their support for Kin-Soul™.
I hope Kin-Soul’s mission connects with you. Join me, along with funeral homes, death care providers, and supporters, in making Kin-Soul™ a meaningful presence in the deathcare industry as a source of comfort and tribute.
In Memory of Frank J. Urosek,
Proudly Frank's Daughter-Kimberly
Founder of Kin-Soul™