Tom Kunst was known to all as a friend, but to a treasured few; beloved husband, father and Papa. Tom died tragically while doing something he loved, training on his bicycle. Over the years, Tom became an avid competitor. Competition soon became a family affair, often including his wife and sons. Tom loved being with his family, pushing himself physically and being out in God’s creation.

Lately we find ourselves in spaces that feel upended and abnormal. Nothing feels routine or familiar. We have adapted, adjusted and let go of things that seem an impossibility. But where does that leave grief? Where does that leave this family who tragically loses its patriarch?

“This was a very traditional service,” Lee said. “But it was also very personal. You can be as traditional and as personal as you want. The two don’t have to be exclusive.”

“Hey! Hey! Listen up!”

A shout? A command? A whistle? That’s not typically how Heritage Life Story Funeral Director Matt Hollebeek welcomes family and friends to a memorial gathering at the funeral home. But then again, there was nothing “typical” about this particular gathering.

We heard the family mention how much Bob liked these and we wanted to give everyone a chance to share in this special memory. Now every time they see this chocolate candy, they’ll think of him. It’s often the little things like this that can have the biggest impact.

For the last 35 years, Sveri went to Sandy's Donuts, Monday through Friday, to have coffee with friends. And just to be clear, she only ate a donut on Fridays or if it was someone's birthday. 

Dozens of family and friends gathered at the church to remember and celebrate Eileen, a longtime special education teacher for Grand Rapids Public Schools, a world traveler, a teddy bear collector (she had at least one or a dozen bears in every room of her house) and an avid reader (she read all the way through her library's selection of books up through the letter "M"). 

Hillary's family didn't want a "traditional" funeral service, so we worked together to host a gathering that "perfectly" reflected her interests, personality and life. Who knew you could have an open bar at a funeral? This truly was a one-of-a-kind celebration.

Nancy Anderson was a woman with "ideas and plans and energy and purpose." Just ask her pastors at First Evangelical Covenant Church.

Bill "Harold" Johnston was a man who took his faith seriously.  He spent each day living that faith, and his quiet and steadfast actions speak loudly to all those he came in contact with.  His story is one of a man who all observed, gloriously showed the unity of actions, words and beliefs. 

If there was ever a backup in the checkout lane, Shirley Despres was almost always to blame.

“Everyone wanted to go to Shirley’s lane,” one of her former Family Fare co-workers shared at the 84-year-old’s visitation on Thursday. “Shoppers would wait in line for twenty minutes even if other lanes were open just to talk to Shirley. That’s just how great she was.”

Every time Henry Tjoelker walked through the doors of Third Reformed Church his pockets were full of peppermints. And not just any peppermints—skip the Altoids and Certs—Henry was a proud Dutchman and therefore, a peppermint purist. His go-to brands—Wilhelmina and King—hailed from his native country of the Netherlands. It was no surprise, then, to the family and friends gathered for Henry's memorial service on Monday, that there were bags of the mint candies waiting for them in every pew.

What's with all the clocks, the model boats and the recumbent bike in the room? Did Heritage Life Story Funeral Home open its own hobby shop? Nope. Those items belonged to Tom Mathews—tinkerer extraordinaire. 

"This is great," exclaimed Chad Russ while gathering with friends and family before his grandfather Tom's memorial service on Saturday. "Look at all of his stuff here."