7 minute read
Grief is the Price of Love
Cappadona Funeral Home provides a gentle crossover with compassionate and cost-effective care
By Grace Yenne
Funerals can be a sweet time of comfort and even joy and laughter in addition to deep grief and sadness. Funerals underpin a necessary part of grieving and provide a safe place to set the foundation for “good grief.”
“I like to do for others, especially at such a difficult time,” said Paula Cappadona of Cappadona Funeral Home in Colorado Springs.
In 1996, Paula and husband Jim opened the full-service funeral home at 1020 E. Fillmore St. The business has six staff members in addition to the Cappadonas.
The family-owned-and-operated funeral home sets itself apart from corporate chains with personalized service at an affordable cost. Sometimes Cappadona said she has had to open the casket at the last minute when the family changed their mind about a closed casket. She’s also printed more funeral programs and added photos to the video to accommodate grieving loved ones at a moment’s notice.
When a person dies, Cappadona cares for the body while they meet with the family and help them decide if they will cremate the body or do a full burial, then proceed according to their wishes.
Cappadona has a chapel and works with several pastors and priests to conduct a service for the sorrowing families. They also work with the cemetery of the family’s choice to give their loved one a final resting place. If it’s someone who has no place to go, “we put them back with their faith,” Cappadona said, adding they are the only funeral home in town to work closely with the public administrator to give indigents a dignified end to their life.
“Advance preparation for a funeral is always a gift for your family,” Cappadona advised. “It’s a smart idea to think of these things ahead of time.”
No matter how it’s tailored, a ceremony is an important step in recovering from deep loss and celebrating a life well lived.
If a funeral is paid for ahead of time, Cappadona does not hold the money in a trust as most funeral homes do. They put the payment in an insurance policy for the client. When that person dies, Cappadona files for the funds with a death certificate and a statement of charges signed by the family.
This financial prearrangement benefits the family because they aren’t obligated to pay taxes on the money. A prearrangement is transferable if a client should move to a different city or state.
It reflects a person’s exact wishes and desires and eases the burden for their loved ones. It also alleviates any questions or differences among family members.
Cappadona Funeral Home’s mission is to provide complete, compassionate and professional services during the bereavement period. They walk alongside families at their most vulnerable moments with empathy and expertise.
It’s important to recognize that grief never ends; it changes. It’s a passage, not a landing point. It is not a sign of weakness or a lack of faith. Grief is the price of love. ■ Paula Cappadona’s helping nature and Jill-of-all-trades competence serves her well as she works with grieving families.
How do I find out where someone is buried?
Go to www.findagrave.com and enter the first and last name of your ancestor.
“When Dignity is a Must, But Cost is a Factor”
We would like to thank you, our community family, for over 25 years of loyalty and voting us “Best of the Springs” 2010-2022 With many thanks to God and you, we hope to serve you for many years to come. ~Jim and Paula Cappadona
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Please call us for information and an appointment (719) 520-1817 | www.cappadonafh.com
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Ozby’s single-dog dare to say “I do too”
You might say our daughter was raised by wolves. Or, at least, amid their kin.
When her father and I wed, Erin was 7 years old. Her dad and I each came into the marriage with our own baggage. Kyle’s was in the form of two golden retrievers and a yellow lab. Mine consisted of two smaller pups from a pound in Phoenix. In the ensuing years, we took in an abandoned border collie and a severely injured Pomeranian. Chip and Ernie and their mom, Yvette, would enter our lives in Erin’s high school years.
After school, when not at band practice or forensics, Erin was at the vet clinic where I worked. If she wasn’t helping a tech clean kennels or hand-addressing billing statements, she was masked and gowned in surgery. The veterinarians gave her a front-row seat to the cutting and removing and repairing and sewing. The proper names for animals’ anatomy and bodily fluids were freely discussed.
Erin observed the inevitable cycle of life that occurs in an animal hospital. She was on deck when puppies were extracted from their mama’s belly during a c-section. And she witnessed her share of clients grieving after the loss of a beloved pet. Our dinner table discussions were not for the squeamish.
And then came college. And Dave.
Erin asked if she could bring a friend to Thanksgiving, as he was unable to get home for the holiday. Having a soft spot for strays, we said, “Of course!” Dave fit into our dog-centric home perfectly, respecting Chip’s boundaries, quaffing from our “WOOF” mug and telling us stories about his own family pooch back home, a chocolate lab named Coco. Dave was obviously from a good dog family, and Kyle and I could picture him as part of our own pack.
You know how dogs just suddenly start giddily zooming around the house or the yard with their tongues out and their eyes wide open? That’s how Kyle and I felt when Erin and Dave—and their lab mix, Ozby—got engaged. Ozby even gave his blessing to the union by putting his pawprint on the marriage license.
On September 4, decked out in his Hawaiian-themed bowtie with the wedding rings securely attached to his collar (and fortunately, no squirrels in sight), Ozby trotted down the aisle to greet his human parents and take part in the ceremony. As we all cheered the newlyweds, Ozby joined in. He was the loudest of all!
Out-of-town family and friends are home with their own pets now. Chip and Ernie are rested up from entertaining the human guests. Our daughter, son-in-law and grand-dog have settled back into their daily lives. All is well in this ever-changing puppy pile we call our life. T puppy pile we call our life. T
THE RUFF LIFE
BY MARTI BENSON Send your questions to Marti in care of Life After 50, or email her directly at OutnumberedByDogs@gmail.com
