Inspiration for Comforting Memorials
On March 13, 2013, I received the terrifying news that my sister/best friend in Maryland had a stroke. Five days later, on March 18, 2013, I received more devastating news that my brother in North Carolina had a massive stroke. He died the next day. Approximately seven months after her stroke, my sister lost her battle. She was pronounced dead on October 31, 2013.
For the first time in my life, on March 20, 2013, I found myself walking into a funeral home to plan my brother's funeral. I had attended many funerals, but I had never thought about what goes into planning one. When I sat down with the funeral director, my first words were, "I've never done this before and I don't know what questions to ask or what to look for." The funeral director was outstanding. He walked me through the process. He informed me that his funeral home does not handle funeral programs, prayer cards or other paper- based products. He gave me the name and phone number of someone who handles that.
I called the number that the funeral director had given me. I asked the gentleman on the other end of the phone to give me the website address of his company. He informed me that he did not have a website. I explained to him that I was located in Maryland (not North Carolina). I asked him how I would go about selecting designs and paper type. He responded, "Just tell me how many programs you need and the dates of birth and death of your loved one and I will send standard programs to the funeral home in time for the funeral." This did not work for me. My brother was very special and deserved more than a "standard program." Since I'm a website designer/developer and graphic artist, I decided to make the funeral programs myself.
Like my brother, my sister died far too young. There were many dreams that she did not get to fulfill. One of her biggest dreams was to marry a loving husband, and I would be the one to throw her bridal shower preceding her special day. Faced with the realization that her special day would never come, I was determined to make her Home Going the celebration of her life! I planned every detail of her Home Going. I created a Celebration of Life video that was shown during the Home Going service, I performed Amazing Grace in sign language, and I created a very special keepsake funeral program for all the attendees. Approximately one week after my sister's service, I received a call from my mother. She called to thank me. Her exact words were, "I want to thank you for planning your sister's funeral. You did such an amazing job that I didn't feel like I was at a funeral at all." It was this comment that inspired me to create Comforting Memorials.
Like the funeral home in North Carolina, the funeral home that handled my sister's funeral in Maryland did not provide paper- based keepsakes to its customers. I noticed the trend: two funeral homes in two different states that did not provide funeral programs, prayer cards or any other paper- based products to their customers. So I decided to do a little research. I contacted 100 random funeral homes in the District of Columbia metropolitan area. 98 of the 100 sampled funeral homes did not provide paper- based keepsakes to its customers. With that realization, I decided that the goal of Comforting Memorials would be to form partnerships with local funeral homes, seamlessly converting them into one- stop- shops for their customers.
Since putting my siblings to rest, I have planned multiple events, developed many memorial products and have comforted many families that have grieved the loss of loved ones.
Comforting Memorials is dedicated to my big brother, Morris A Wells and my big sister and best friend, Regina O Wells.
Tammy M. Wells
Chief Executive Officer
Tammy M. Wells
Obituary Writer
Graphic Design Artist
Customer Relations Professional
Sign Language Performer
Website Designer & Developer
Video Producer & Editor
Tammy’s motto : “As all people are unique, so are our products”