Papa’s Funeral

Mission Accomplished: Papa’s Memorial Service. Best review was from a fourth grader in Sophia’s class: “That was the most fun memorial service I’ve ever been to and that’s the most chocolate I’ve ever eaten in my whole life!”

This service can only be best described as Magical. Nine family members stayed in my home over the weekend. Thirteen family members visited in total along with so many beautiful friends!

Sunday, December 17, 2000 1:00 PM my father walked me down the isle at my wedding. Now our wedding anniversary has become a family celebration anniversary. I didn’t pick the time and date of Papa’s memorial service, it was the only date available for our location. Seventeen years later, on Sunday December 17 at 1:00 we celebrated Papa’s life. What a family celebration day we had…

I never imagined a memorial service could be so full of love, beauty, tears, fun, friends and family. There are so many pictures to share and so many people who generously gave of themselves to make my girls’ dream memorial service for their Papa come true. I cannot say THANK YOU ENOUGH!!

For those that couldn’t make it, you know we LOVE you and appreciate you! It takes a village to thrive after loss and we are so thankful you are a part of our village.

I feel at peace. My heart is full of love and gratitude. You ALL gave our family the Christmas present we needed most at this time…Your Presence and Empowerment with Love after Loss.

I cannot thank the AMAZING TRIBE of EMPOWERING MOMS that embraced our family vision, making the chocolate and Polish food, coordinating the coloring station and memorial stone painting station. (Arie and Sophia wanted crafts at the reception…and it was an EXCELLENT way for children to express their thoughts and feelings).

The speakers were funny, soulful, and thoughtful. Thank you Rabbi Kevin Solomon, Michael Sokol, Tom Skarda, Jordan Jager, Koda Porembski, Arie and Sophia Porembski. I couldn’t believe the beautiful things they said. Thank you Kota Aranda and Travis Cooper for filming our service so my girls and our family have those memories for generations to come.

Thank you to our wonderful family at Beth Hallel who loved on us and helped us make a beautiful memorial service. We will NEVER forget this day.

We all worked together to bring Arie and Sophia’s vision into reality for their Papa’s memorial service. It was more beautiful than I could have ever imagined.

Thank you is too small a thing to say, but THANK YOU just the same. (Friends, I have got to get to sleep, will tag friends in the AM, but tag yourself if you see this!)