Some memories live so vividly in the heart that even time itself can’t wash them away. My sister Cindy is one of those memories for me. It’s been more than seven years since she passed from cancer, but she’s still right here — in every soft ocean breeze and golden shoreline I see.

Before she left this world, Cindy said something I’ll never forget:

“Rosie, you need to do my funeral because I know it will be beautiful.”

At the time, I wasn’t designing memorial templates yet. I knew how to use computers and software, but I didn’t know how to make something that truly captured a person’s spirit — something personal, peaceful, and full of love.

When the time came, I wanted to honor her the way she deserved: with a soft beach theme, because the sea always felt like home to her. The sound of waves, the smell of salt, the way light dances on the water — it all reminded me of her gentle heart and quiet faith.

But back then, the only option I could find was a simple Word document template for $45. It wasn’t beautiful, but it was something to start with. Even with my experience in tech and design, it took me four hours of tears and frustration just to make it look halfway right. I remember sitting there, crying at my desk, wishing there was an easier, kinder way for families to create something lovely during such a hard moment.

^{4 hours later, the above is what was created.}

That night, I made myself a promise: No one else should have to go through that kind of pain just to make something beautiful for someone they love.

That promise became the spark that started everything.

The Sea and Sand Memorial Program was the very first design I ever created. It carries the spirit of peace and homecoming that Cindy loved — soft ocean blues, gentle sand tones, and space for photos that feel sunlit and serene. Every time I see it, I think of her. I imagine her standing barefoot on a quiet beach, wind in her hair, finally whole and free again.

Cindy once told me, “I love God, always have. He’s who I turn to when I don’t know what to do.”

That’s exactly what I did when I began this journey — I turned to Him. I asked for a way to bring peace and beauty into one of life’s hardest moments, and He answered in the most unexpected way. What began as one small design for my sister has grown into an entire collection of memorials filled with faith, warmth, and love.

The Sea and Sand program will always be my foundation — a reminder that beauty can rise from heartbreak, and that every act of love leaves a ripple that never truly fades.

If you or someone you love finds peace in the sea, I hope this design brings comfort to your heart. May it help you create something truly special — a tribute filled with the same quiet grace Cindy carried her whole life.

Because every goodbye deserves beauty.

Scripture

“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
— Philippians 4:7

From Rose 🕊️

I created *Sea and Sand* for my sister, but I share it now for anyone who’s ever loved deeply and lost tenderly. May its calm waves and gentle colors remind you that love, like the sea, never truly ends — it simply flows home to God. Explore the Sea and Sand Memorial Program on Etsy — created to bring peace and beauty to your tribute.

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