When my father died, I was drowning.
I had two toddlers at home, a heart shattered into pieces, and absolutely no idea what my dad would have wanted for his funeral. I walked into a funeral home hoping someone would take my hand and guide me through the fog. Instead, I left feeling more lost than when I arrived—like my needs didn’t matter, like I was just another appointment on someone’s calendar.
So I did what I knew how to do. I pulled from my years as a production coordinator and planned something myself—a personal, intimate ceremony where everyone gathered and shared stories about my dad. People laughed. People cried. People remembered him.
And somewhere in that room full of love and grief, I found something I didn’t expect: healing.
But I couldn’t shake the feeling that it shouldn’t have been this hard. I kept thinking, why isn’t there a roadmap for this? Why isn’t there someone who understands that grief isn’t just about the funeral—it’s about everything before and everything after?
That question wouldn’t leave me alone.
I went back to school, earned my license, and worked at a busy funeral home in New York City. When Covid hit, I was one of hundreds of funeral directors across the country stepping up in impossible circumstances to help families say goodbye. I saw grief at its rawest. I saw people at their most vulnerable. And I knew—truly knew—that there had to be a better way.
Then I lost my mother.
Grief found me again, and even with everything I’d learned, it still brought me to my knees. But this time, I understood something I hadn’t before: we’re not meant to carry this alone.
That’s why Ripple exists.
I built this community because I remember what it felt like to be lost in the dark, wishing someone would just light the way. I wanted to create what I needed—a place that’s intuitive, gentle, and meets you exactly where you are. Whether you need practical guidance or simply someone who gets it, you belong here.
Your grief is yours. Your journey is yours. But you don’t have to walk it alone.
I’m here. We’re here. And together, we’ll find the light.
— Caroline