As one of the very first to offer virtual memorial services to families in March 2020, I started Holding Space Events to bring communities of friends and family together when in-person gathering was not possible.   With 25 years of combined experience in the fields of dispute resolution, financial services, care management, and end-of-life planning, I’m comfortable holding space for families and their communities to gather as they transition through times of change and mortality.   

I work with a small core team of dedicated planning and technical facilitators.  We hear over and over how immersive and connective our virtual events feel.  The feedback from families about how they felt throughout the process is where Holding Space Events got its name.  While “Holding Space” can mean many different things for different people, a general definition is to be present without judgment, focusing on someone to support them as they feel their feelings without judgment.

Event programs may look similar, but the journey to each event is very different.  One of my favorite compliments was from a son planning an event for his father.  During the planning call, he looked up, smiled through tears, and said, “I can not believe I’m feeling joy planning an event that I do not want to have.”

I’ve seen firsthand how transformative the process of planning and participating in end-of-life events can be. Rituals carry us emotionally from one place to another, easing pain and creating connection. My team and I are here to support you in bringing your community together to share your loved one’s story.

Holding space for you and yours,

Suzanne Green,

Owner and Principal Planner

The concentric rings of a tree stump serve as our company logo. The color and width of the ring bands can tell us whether they have experienced favorable or stressful conditions, whether there has been excessive rainfall or a drought, and whether a forest.

Our lives are marked with similar “rings” that share our personal history and growth. A Celebration of Life is a time to gather, share and reflect on a loved one’s journey of a life well lived.

Just as trees provide essential life for all living things, our loved ones nurture and sustain us. Trees promote health and social well-being by removing air pollution, reducing stress, encouraging physical movement, and promoting community. These are also qualities that carry us through grief and loss.

For these reasons, Holding Space Events donates a tree for each event we plan and facilitate. Donations are made to One Tree Planted, a non-profit organization focused on global reforestation. Trees are planted where they are most needed at the time of donation. In the days following the event, a card and Tree Certificate will be sent sharing the details about where the tree will be planted in memory of your loved one.