An Honor

Today after writing my blog I got a phone call from the manager at the funeral home were Tinlees service was held. She asked me if she could submit our story to the International Cemetery Cremation Funeral Associates (ICCFA) for the KIP Award (Keeping It Personal). It's an award for the most personalized funeral service across the nation. She had to write a summary of our story to the submit and I wanted to share with everyone what she wrote. It touched my heart so much and this is just one more thing that God is doing to show something me something positive out of our sad story. Here is what she wrote...I hope it touches you like it did me:

On the morning of July 4th, 2012, Diane Gardner, Manager at Griffin Leggett Forest Hills Funeral Home and Memorial Park, received a call at home from a local pastor.  His granddaughter, Tinlee, had passed away on the 3rd of July.  Diane went to the hospital to visit with the parents and extended family.  Our goal was to create a tribute fitting for a child, who while she never lived outside the womb, touched countless lives.

An invitation only visitation was held at the funeral home.  The family brought in a lot of the things from the Pinterest Pink room they had created for Tinlee.  Mom-Stacy and Dad-Cody spent time that evening just holding Tinlee and seeing how perfect she was from her head full of blonde hair to her tiny feet.  Diane took a lot of pictures so they could hold close in their memory Tinlee’s time on earth.

The day of the service was hot and sunny and PINK…everyone wore pink, the programs were pink and the flowers were pink.  We used a photo of Stacy and Cody holding Tinlee’s hand on the large screen. When Stacy arrived at the funeral home, she asked if she could holdTinlee throughout the service.  We made a few quick changes and when the family processed in thru the overflowing crowd, Stacy and Cody led the procession with Tinlee in Stacy’s arms wrapped in her pink blanket.  Tinlee’s grandfather spoke during the service and a special friend sang a song for Tinlee, all while Stacy rocked her child.

At the close of the service, Stacy and Cody led the procession out with Tinlee safely snuggled in her mother’s arms.  The family spent some quiet time together before we placed Tinlee in her tiny casket.  Stacy rode in a wheelchair with Cody pushing her, the casket on her lap, as we walked across the street to the cemetery.  Leaving Tinlee there, at the foot of the crossin Forest Hills Memorial Park was one of the hardest things her parents will ever have to do.  Not long after the service, Stacy and Cody gave Diane a “TinleeBracelet” in honor of our contribution to making her tribute a personalized moment that spoke to the guests who Tinlee was and what she continues to mean to the people she touched.