the kin-soul™ story |
Hello, I am Kimberly, a certified Event Professional and certified Senior Healthcare Professional, and never in a million years did I see myself putting all this on hold, skipping retirement, and focusing on a crusade to ensure every individual in a time of mourning. was not overlooked to receive the comfort and support they need. But I have, and I am determined...hoping you will join me.
It all started when I was asked to organize a family reunion for a young mother with terminal cancer. She wanted her children to meet and bond with their immediate family and their cousins, all of whom were states away. I worked endlessly, knowing I was against the clock, leaning on her sister through numerous calls. Unfortunately, the call came. Instead of celebrating a reunion, family members would be traveling for her funeral. My role shifted from planning a reunion to attending a funeral, with the intention 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 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. Sadly, they were unaware that she had a sister and asked if I knew whether her parents were present. We were 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 or to yell to the world, "I am in mourning." It’s our responsibility to assist in the healing process by comforting them, but how can we do so if we don't recognize their need for consolation?
In the days and years 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 know he was his son. A funeral director shared about a grandmother who recently sat alone at a visitation, unnoticed. Another couple learned that the young man they had comforted at the funeral home was actually standing with the wife of the deceased; they had no idea. A group of co-workers teased a fellow worker about being grumpy all day; they had no idea she had just lost her grandfather. I’m sure someone close to you has had similar experiences, as I hear them often, and sadly, I have learned these stories become scars.
My experience, the stories that followed, along with the encouragement from the funeral industry and the public, have inspired me to create Kin-Soul™, a token designed to be worn over the heart by an immediate family member in tribute to their recently departed loved one, discreetly signals their need for comfort and support during their period of mourning. Kin-Soul is also worn during a period of mourning, including the funeral service, memorial, celebration of life, at work, or in public. Worn in honor of their loved one, as a tribute to their departed loved one, while discreetly acknowledging their need for comfort and support. Once worn, Kin-Soul™ opens to become a keepsake bookmark and a personalized detachable pendant suitable for a necklace, keychain, or other uses, ensuring it provides comfort for a lifetime.
Today, funeral homes seamlessly integrate Kin-Soul into their services, providing families with a meaningful way to honor their loved ones while ensuring their comfort needs are met. You can purchase Kin-Soul by reaching out to any of our funeral homes and bereavement partners, or by contacting us directly. We are grateful to our partners, as this collaboration illustrates how the funeral industry reinforces its role as compassionate caregivers.
In Memory of Frank J. Urosek,
Kimberly- Proudly Frank's Daughter
Founder of Kin-Soul™
[email protected]
It all started when I was asked to organize a family reunion for a young mother with terminal cancer. She wanted her children to meet and bond with their immediate family and their cousins, all of whom were states away. I worked endlessly, knowing I was against the clock, leaning on her sister through numerous calls. Unfortunately, the call came. Instead of celebrating a reunion, family members would be traveling for her funeral. My role shifted from planning a reunion to attending a funeral, with the intention 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 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. Sadly, they were unaware that she had a sister and asked if I knew whether her parents were present. We were 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 or to yell to the world, "I am in mourning." It’s our responsibility to assist in the healing process by comforting them, but how can we do so if we don't recognize their need for consolation?
In the days and years 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 know he was his son. A funeral director shared about a grandmother who recently sat alone at a visitation, unnoticed. Another couple learned that the young man they had comforted at the funeral home was actually standing with the wife of the deceased; they had no idea. A group of co-workers teased a fellow worker about being grumpy all day; they had no idea she had just lost her grandfather. I’m sure someone close to you has had similar experiences, as I hear them often, and sadly, I have learned these stories become scars.
My experience, the stories that followed, along with the encouragement from the funeral industry and the public, have inspired me to create Kin-Soul™, a token designed to be worn over the heart by an immediate family member in tribute to their recently departed loved one, discreetly signals their need for comfort and support during their period of mourning. Kin-Soul is also worn during a period of mourning, including the funeral service, memorial, celebration of life, at work, or in public. Worn in honor of their loved one, as a tribute to their departed loved one, while discreetly acknowledging their need for comfort and support. Once worn, Kin-Soul™ opens to become a keepsake bookmark and a personalized detachable pendant suitable for a necklace, keychain, or other uses, ensuring it provides comfort for a lifetime.
Today, funeral homes seamlessly integrate Kin-Soul into their services, providing families with a meaningful way to honor their loved ones while ensuring their comfort needs are met. You can purchase Kin-Soul by reaching out to any of our funeral homes and bereavement partners, or by contacting us directly. We are grateful to our partners, as this collaboration illustrates how the funeral industry reinforces its role as compassionate caregivers.
In Memory of Frank J. Urosek,
Kimberly- Proudly Frank's Daughter
Founder of Kin-Soul™
[email protected]