Kimberly Urosek-Honeycutt
When one of my clients became terminally ill, I found myself with a great responsibility. As a certified event planner, she had come to me to quickly organize a family reunion. She wanted her children to know their distant relatives. Determined to make her wish come true, I began planning. As my client became more ill, I relied on long distance phone calls to her family, especially her sister. Our conversations led to me becoming the link between the sisters.
Sadly, on a rainy day in mid-May, my client passed away before the family gathering could take place. Family members and relatives would now be traveling to her funeral, not her envisioned reunion. Unfortunately, my focus shifted from planning to consoling the sister I’d grown to know via our correspondence.
On the evening of the visitation, I walked into a filled funeral home. I was determined to pay my respects and console my client’s sister. I had no idea it was going to be so difficult.
No one person stood out; she could have been anyone in the room. I began looking for anyone who resembled my client. I observed several older ladies hugging and crying. Is one of them her mother? I noticed a group of women about her age. Is her sister in that group?
I approached a group of associates to point out her sister. They did not know she had one. They asked me, "Is her mother here"? I had no clue. Extremely frustrated, I left with hopes of finding her sister at the funeral the next day. The following morning, in a crowded chapel, a woman walked up to the pulpit. “This letter was written by my sister," she said.
I was shocked, sad and angry! You see, I had seen the same women the day before —the sister I had become acquainted with — at the visitation, standing all alone on the porch of the funeral home. Nobody knew who she was, and she hadn’t known anyone present, either.
My mind was racing: how did this happen? How could this be possible? This is so incredibly sad. Unfortunately, I learned this occurs all too often! Nevertheless, I was determined to never have this happen again. That is where the concept of Kin-Soul began.
Kin-Soul was developed with many prayers and the support of mentors. Its purpose is to silently identifies who is the immediate family to the deceased, because a funeral is not the time for them to repeatedly introduce themselves. Instead, the wearing of
Kin-Soul quickly and quietly pronounces who is part of the immediate family to friends, coworkers and other attendees wishing to pay their respects.
No longer will a family member sit alone while grieving. No longer will you have to stress over guessing who the family is or stand next to a grieving family member during a funeral without realizing who they are.
Simply look for Kin-Soul, worn in honor of their loved one. Giving you the ability console the family with ease.
Be the change that makes a difference,
Kimberly
