Uncertain Next Steps
In 2023 Joni found herself in a position many of us may face one day—searching for a meaningful way to honor a loved one’s memory. Her husband, Scott, had passed away after ten years together. She was left grief-stricken, holding onto his ashes and uncertain of the next step.
“We packed 40 years into our 10 years. It was so apparent to me we were meant to be together.” -Joni S., Better Place Forests St. Croix Valley, Minnesota
Conversations About Death
Joni and Scott had met later in life and were inseparable, even during Scott’s three-year battle with a terminal illness. However, it wasn’t until his final month that they began discussing end-of-life plans.
“In his final month of life (which we did not know would be his final month), we started to have conversations about death,” recalls Joni. “I realized I hadn’t actually asked him, ‘Do you want a funeral?’ He said, ‘No! No funerals, no burials.’ Then I suggested a celebration of life, and he said, ‘Yes. That would be great.’ That surprised me but I thought, okay, I have a plan and feel good about that.”
Making an End-of-Life Plan
Scott’s initial wish was to have his ashes spread in Colorado, to be closer to his father’s resting place. However, Scott worried about the burden on Joni to make that trip after his passing. “We were all in a tizzy,” recalls Joni. “I was fine with his urn of ashes sitting on my living room tv stand, but that’s not what we talked about.”
“I was at my wit’s end,” recalls Joni still holding his ashes a year after Scott’s passing. “I called my pastor friend thinking okay you’ve seen everything that can be done with ashes, what are the options? She rattled off a few things, and I was like, ‘No that’s not right.’ Then she mentioned Better Place Forests St. Croix Valley and I recalled a news segment about spreading ashes at a tree. I scheduled a forest visit the very next day!”
“I just always thought. There’s got to be a better place—and that’s when we found the St. Croix Valley Memorial Forest.” -Joni S., Better Place Forests St. Croix Valley, Minnesota
Peace of Mind
“When I stepped into the St. Croix Valley Memorial Forest in Minnesota, all of my worries melted away,” Joni shares. Despite not being Scott’s original plan, the sense of peace the forest brought was indescribable. Joni, her daughter, and Scott’s family knew they had found the perfect resting place.
They purchased a red maple Memorial Tree, for Scott’s ashes, as well as his mother’s ashes, plus spreading rights for Scott’s sister, Joni and her pets—thus making it the Schramm Family Tree. This decision brought the family together, lasting peace of mind and saved them time by bundling their end-of-life needs into one easy decision.
“There will be at least four of us at this tree, so we thought let’s get one marker and make this the Schramm Family Tree.” -Joni S., Better Place Forests St. Croix Valley, Minnesota
Celebration of Life
The intimate forest memorial service, attended by five family members, was a chance to celebrate Scott’s life, honoring his wishes. Each participant took part in placing both Scott and his mother’s ashes at the base of their tree. Joni chose to read poetry she wrote herself. This ceremony, though not Scott’s original wish, brought Joni, her daughter, and Scott’s family peace and closure.
“The peace and closure that I got from participating in the memorial, in the readings, and actually placing his ashes there, it’s exactly what he wanted for me.” -Joni S., Better Place Forests St. Croix Valley, Minnesota
Planning for the Future
Planning for the future gave Joni and her family what Scott wanted most for them—peace. By choosing the Schramm Family Memorial Tree, they bundled all of their end-of-life needs into one meaningful decision, ensuring their loved ones won’t face difficult choices later.
Give your loved ones the ultimate gift of peace of mind with a Better Place Forests Memorial Tree and forest memorial that you can plan ahead now so you and your family can rest easy. Our team is here to support you every step of the way.
