Keeping It Personal Awards

El Campanario – Guatemala

Recognizing the unspoken grief of pregnancy and infant loss, El Campanario created “Vínculos de Amor,” a comprehensive support program that helps families navigate this tragedy through recognition, remembrance, memorialization, and support. They provide a Certificate of Loss to validate each baby’s existence, host remembrance events to honor the bond between parents and children and created a Butterfly Garden as a permanent memorial. Their Thanathology center, the first in the region authorized by the Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Foundation, offers professional grief support to families in need. Presented at the 3rd Annual International Thanatology Congress, the program has already supported 165 families across Guatemala, El Salvador, Argentina, Mexico, and the U.S., proving that love and remembrance can transform loss into healing. 

Señoriale Corporación de Servicio – Guatemala 

In 2024, Señoriales Corporación de Servicio expanded Homenajes de Luz y Vida into a three-day event, bringing together 40,000 attendees to honor life, memory, and tradition at Cementerio Los Parques. All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1) focused on reflection and solemn tributes, Day of the Dead (Nov. 2) celebrated cultural fusion with traditional altars and activities, and Day of the Stars or Pets (Nov. 3) honored pets with parades and workshops. Built on four pillars—cultural appreciation, love-filled tributes, immersive experiences, and emotional connections—Caminos de Luz illuminated the legacy of those who have passed while guiding families in celebrating cherished traditions. 

Cave Hill Cemetery & Arboretum – Louisville, Kentucky

Cave Hill Cemetery and its non-profit Foundation, the Cave Hill Heritage Foundation, collaborated with Hosparus Health of Louisville to address the often-overlooked needs of grieving children in their community. Through the G-Force camp, children aged 6-12 who had experienced significant loss were provided with a transformative week-long experience. The program included activities such as exploring the cemetery grounds, panel discussions with funeral directors, and a mock funeral service where children actively participated in honoring their loved ones. This innovative approach, guided by professional therapists, not only facilitated healing but also fostered a sense of connection and understanding among the participants. Feedback from families highlighted the profound impact of the program, with children expressing increased openness about their feelings and memories of their loved ones. Cave Hill Cemetery and the Cave Hill Heritage Foundation are committed to continuing this invaluable partnership with Hosparus, recognizing the importance of supporting grieving children as they navigate the journey of loss and healing. 

Señoriales Corporación de Servicio – Guatemala

In Guatemala, October and November are deeply imbued with nostalgia and love as their culture commemorates the departed, marking the start of a special season dedicated to honoring passed loved ones. Señoriales Corporación de Servicio’s “Momentos Que Nos Unen” campaign effectively emphasized the significance of this dedication through a day devoted solely to this purpose, celebrating the enduring connection between the living and the departed. At Cementerio Los Parques, families engaged in various activities fostering familial bonds and paying tribute to their departed loved ones, with highlights including workshops, storytelling, and a monumental kite symbolizing the bridge between earthly and spiritual realms. Through music, creativity, and reflection, the event underscored the importance of cherishing every moment shared and the enduring influence of those who have left indelible imprints on our lives, ultimately affirming that love and connection transcend physical existence. 

Keeper Memorials – Hamilton, Canada 

The “Your Story, Your Legacy” feature of the Veterans Legacy Memorial (VLM) from Keeper Memorials provides Veterans with a dedicated space to share their own life stories, preserving their legacies for future generations. Developed in partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and deathcare leaders, VLM commemorates nearly 10 million Veterans through online memorial pages where loved ones can share photos, tributes, and biographies. Now, eligible living Veterans can securely document their personal and military milestones, transforming VLM into an interactive tribute that connects communities, educates future generations, and ensures every Veteran’s story is honored.

Afterword – New York City, New York

Afterword’s Online Planner is transforming the way families arrange funeral services—making the process easier, more transparent, and deeply personal. Designed to guide families as if they were speaking directly with a funeral director, the planner offers educational videos, real-time pricing, and detailed service descriptions to help families make informed decisions with confidence. Unlike pre-packaged selections, it provides flexibility to explore all available options, from burial to cremation. Seamlessly integrating with in-person arrangements, the Online Planner empowers funeral homes to showcase their services while offering families a clear, stress-free planning experience. 

Life’s QR – Niagara Falls, Canada

Life’s QR is an innovative platform revolutionizing memory preservation, legacy sharing, and generational connections through advanced QR technology. With a commitment to honoring every individual’s unique narrative, Life’s QR offers stainless steel, weatherproof QR code signs placed on headstones, memorials, and other sites, leading visitors to interactive online tribute pages. Users can personalize memorials with extensive text, photos, videos, and even virtual guestbooks, ensuring a meaningful and respectful environment. The platform’s vision is to lead in memory preservation and legacy sharing, providing an affordable and user-friendly solution across Canada and the USA, extending opportunities to funeral homes, cemeteries, towns, and businesses. Life’s QR aims to celebrate human life and stories, transcending traditional obituaries by connecting, learning, and sharing memories in a world where cherishing loved ones is paramount. 

Passages International, Inc. – Albuqurque, New Mexico

Passages addresses the challenge of scattering cremated remains by introducing The Etern.life Memorial Map, an online platform providing families with a designated space to mark the exact scattering location, create dynamic memorials, and share stories and photos of their loved ones. Unlike static obituaries, Etern.life fosters a living community where families can continuously update and personalize memorials, offering a meaningful alternative to traditional burials. With nearly half of cremation families opting to scatter, Etern.life fills the need for accessible, meaningful places to pay respects, catering to diverse reasons for scattering. Already established in 16 countries, Passages encourages families to share unique goodbye stories and celebrates the diversity of memorial practices, providing free access to the platform with every biodegradable urn and Scattering Tube purchase.