Thursday, September 22, 2011

Remembering my Mother

It seems ironic to need an urn just weeks before our official launch of Studio Formå. My mother, Janet Davison Thayer, passed away in July. She had been ill with congestive heart failure for a long time. Still dealing with this loss and all of the tasks that come with death has been hard.

Mom did indicate she was to be cremated and to be buried (along with her husband) in the family plot in NJ. But she never said anything about her urn. Three factors influenced our choice for a commissioned urn:
• She loved art
• She valued being fiscally conservative
• And we (her 4 children) wanted something special to honor her time on this earth

Tom suggested a simple bronze box with something sketched on the outside to reflect her life. He was a bit taken back when we brainstormed 6 different items. He wasn’t sure he could do it; he did and I love the final product.

Tom did not put a protective coating on. As we admire the urn between now and Oct 14 when we inter her ashes, our finger prints become part of the finish.

I imagine a thousand years from now an archeologist discovering this bronze beauty. Looking at the box she will know a bit about Mom’s life and see from this unique urn that she was loved.

3 comments:

  1. This is the most personal urn I have ever seen - and having been in the funeral business, I have seen a lot! Melding art, life images, and the finger prints of those who have loved her dearly is such a treasure in and of itself, let alone how honored she is by being surrounded forever by them. I am so moved by your generous spirit in wanting even the urn to be so personal, as was your care of her right to the end. Oh that we all could look toward dying surrounded by such care and love.

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  2. This is the most personal urn I have ever seen - and having been in the funeral business, I have seen a lot! Melding art, life images, and the finger prints of those who have loved her dearly is such a treasure in and of itself, let alone how honored she is by being surrounded forever by them. I am so moved by your generous spirit in wanting even the urn to be so personal, as was your care of her right to the end. Oh that we all could look toward dying surrounded by such care and love. XOXO Elaine

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  3. Dear Marcia, What a beautiful way to remember and honor your mother. And how wonderful that Tom was able to produce the piece from all of your visions! As a former hospice chaplain, I have always found it so important to find the symbols and rituals that will help guide the transformation of our relationships with those who have died. I imagine this lovely urn being an important part in that process for you and your family. Blessings on this journey. -Anne Swallow Gillis

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