A Letter from our Director on Grief
Most people remember the first time a loved one passed away, the grief, the impact it had for the rest of our lives until now. For me It was the death of my great grandmother Ruth, it was an anticipated loss, but nonetheless painful. My dad brought me along in the funeral planning at 13 years old. I remember her funeral vividly. Everything happened that the funeral directors said it would. She was placed in a box in a hole in the ground, dug deep into the earth. Everyone was so sad, as was I. Year after year we drove hours to visit Mama Ruth continuing to be sad and visit this sad place. I started getting anxiety as I got older each time we would pull into the graveyard. I would vividly picture what she must look like year after year.
I never understood why we mourn the inevitable. Why couldn’t we celebrate all the good she did in her life. Instead of coming together to be sad why not come together to celebrate a life well lived.
By the time, I reached adulthood I had been to more funerals and learned about cremation and urns and several other options available. I got to sit in on a few being planned and realized I was to be a part of planning these very important final decisions.
Before I had my children Art consumed my life, painting sculpting and even musical arts. Culture inspired me and 'you can do it' in mama ruths voice rang in my ears. A few of my paintings got sold.
Part of the realization was becoming a woman and my search for greatness and passion, and part of it was my memories of Mama Ruth’s funeral that sparked my journey into innovating the funeral service industry. Some would say its Art but I would say its more than that. I breathe what I do and miss every second I cannot be doing it.
Since that realization, I opened my own cremation art company Set Free at Sea, We turn cremated remains into coral reefs! I got my business degree and started from the sea floor up literally. I singlehandedly built marketed and grew my company over the past year. My services allow families and friends to visit the departed via scuba- diving. This by far is one of my top accomplishments of my career, with hundreds more achievements to go, I have big plans for Setfreeatsea, Corals will not be my only service, by 2017 fall I will offer various other art projects, including canvas art made with cremations. I breathe what I do and miss every second I cannot be doing it. Thank you for all who have supported me, believed in me and encouraged me to this place! See You at Sea!
Amberlee Hoagland
Artistic Director
setfreeatsea.com
amberleehoagland@gmail
