SendOff Blog

Planning your own funeral arrangements isn’t just practical, it’s a gift to yourself and those you love. Most of us, even those in the later decades of life, aren’t thinking about a plan for their funeral. Death, including what happens leading up to it and what comes after, isn’t a topic we typically discuss at … Read more

Guest blog authored by Brittany Squillace, MA, LMFT – Grief Counselor, Best Self Therapy  Brittany Squillace, MA, LMFT When you think of grief, whether it was your own experience or a loved one who was walking through their own grief journey, what comes to mind? What emotions are believed to be part of the grieving … Read more

Marie and Tom, mother- and father-in-law to Kelly Roberts, Founder of SendOff When I arrived back in the office a couple of weeks ago from an errand, I listened to a message requesting I call my father-in-law, Tom. I was a bit intrigued by this as we didn’t communicate over the phone very often, so … Read more

Cheryl Hauser There are times in life (and in death) when we want to take control and do it our own way. After watching her beloved brother Bill suffer from Alzheimer’s, Cheryl Hauser, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at age 76, knew she wanted to take a different path. When the time came that her … Read more

People who enjoy gardening have a special awareness and appreciation for certain things that many of us miss. They understand life cycles. They know that plants can rest, grow, produce, and die. Kay Rothe loved plants so it was fitting that her SendOff be hosted at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. We’re so pleased to have … Read more

Sometimes there’s a line of an obituary that stands out. Well, in Dominic “Nick” Joseph Zeman’s case there were two. His obituary described him as a passionate artist, performer, brother, uncle, and friend – the part we loved “and could charm just about anyone with a few words and a knowing smile.” Ahh, that gives … Read more

Guest blog authored by Rachel Schromen, owner of Schromen Law, LLC During the pandemic, many of us got used to doing tasks for ourselves that we never would have considered before. Whether it was homeschooling your children, becoming a seasoned pro at baking sourdough, or giving your dog a haircut, closed businesses and difficult scheduling … Read more

It wasn’t until Kate Anderson, founder of modern urn company Welkin, lost her father unexpectedly that she realized how difficult it was to plan a celebration of life for your loved one. There is a laundry list of to-dos with a too-short timeline to properly plan anything you feel reflects the life of your loved … Read more

Debra Joy “Dancing Deb” Clark passed away peacefully in Coon Rapids, MN on March 20th 2023. Much of Deb’s life was spent listening to music and dancing so it was fitting that her SendOff was set to music and had a dancefloor! The Best Parts of Our Work One of the best parts of our … Read more

Not to brag, but we threw one heck of a party! In April we held our St. Paul Area Chamber Ribbon Cutting at The Lexington in St. Paul and we invited our supporters to join us. For over 75 years, The Lexington has hosted many milestone celebrations, and its stately elegance made for a lovely … Read more