As some of you know, I unexpectedly lost my very best friend in the world last evening, June 16th. Laura was more than a best friend to me; she was the one person in this world I could count on for everything. A lot of people counted on Laura. She had a way of connecting with others and healing them, whether through her clinical work with patients or, honestly, just her empathetic and loving heart.
It’s hard to put into words how much Laura meant to me and to all of us. Losing her feels so unreal, but I know that one of the last things I can do for her is help gather resources to ensure she’s laid to rest the way she wanted.
Laura didn’t want a traditional burial. In one of our many honest and heartfelt conversations, Laura recently shared with me her dream of having a green burial. In her words, she said, “I want to be with Mother Earth.” This should be no surprise to those of you who knew Laura and the way she cared for the earth and her garden. She even picked out a cemetery near Belleplain State Forest in New Jersey, a place she said she felt connected to.
While Laura had a small insurance policy through work, it likely won’t be enough to cover this untimely financial burden. Laura and her husband, DM, just recently made one of their dreams come true by purchasing their first home together. With the weight of a new mortgage on top of sudden funeral expenses and others that arise, I know DM will have to face challenges that none of us could begin to plan for. It would mean the world to me if you would join me in supporting Laura by assisting him with some of those expenses for Laura’s burial.
Laura is leaving behind an immeasurable void in the hearts of those who loved her, especially mine, but my hope is that we can come together and fulfill this last wish for her and honor her memory.
If you’re able to donate, no matter how small, your gift will go directly toward giving Laura the beautiful, green burial she envisioned.
While DM has given me permission to do this, he did ask me to state that if there are any remaining funds from this generous gift, they will be donated in Laura’s memory to the Adult Congenital Heart Association—an organization close to their hearts.
As soon as a service date has been selected and a burial has been organized, I will update this fundraiser to let donors know.
Thank you for reading, for caring, and for helping honor Laura’s memory with the dignity, love, and the peace she deserves.
-Katie
