Party of My Life

In this Memorial Day episode of  Party of My Life , host  Anne Morehouse  talks with  Gary Marquardt   about how a lifetime shaped by war, loss, entrepreneurship, and creativity led him to a powerful calling: playing  live Taps  for veterans’ funerals. Gary shares moving stories from the families he’s served, explains the history and meaning of Taps, and offers clear, practical guidance on how any...

With so many options for where to host a funeral reception or celebration of life, where does one begin? One consideration for veterans in Minnesota is what is located near Fort Snelling? Adena Hinz , Sales Director for Mendakota Country Club shares what this beautiful venue has to offer. Mendakota Country Club 2075 Mendakota Drive Mendota Heights, MN 55120 This episode was hosted and produced by...

Wings for Widows Executive Director Chris Bentley joins us to discuss the importance of proactive financial planning and why these conversations should happen before a loved one passes away. For more information: Wings for Widows and to register for the 1st Annual X-Golf Tournament . This episode was hosted by Anne Morehouse with original music composed and performed by Caileen Viehweg. Outline: C...

People are getting cremated, but then what? Lakewood 's Director of Marketing & Outreach, Julia Gillis , and Director of Family Services, Kelly Leahy , explain how this Minneapolis landmark has evolved along with the death care industry. Be sure to check out Lakewood's Events & Programs tab to visit in a variety of ways at lakewoodcemetery.org. This episode was hosted and produced by Anne...

As in life, businesses grow and develop. Heidi Andermack, Co-founder and CEO of Chowgirls Catering shares her journey and how Chowgirls came into its own as a flagship, sustainably responsible catering company. Heidi discusses how taking care of people and the planet is critically vital to Chowgirls mission. This episode was hosted and produced by Anne Morehouse, with original music created and pe...

In addition to organ donation, whole body donation is another end-of-life option. By donating one's body, we help advance medical research and support future professionals studying medicine and mortuary science. Linnea Seidelman, donation coordinator at the University of Minnesota's Anatomy Bequest Program, shares details on the donation process and how people can make a difference for future gene...

Handling the logistics of a loved one's estate is not easy, especially when it comes to real estate. Ann Breuer from First Choice Realty Solutions guides us on how to best navigate this challenging process. Ann Breuer can be reached at 612.999.2444 ann@firstchoicerealtysolutions.com https://www.firstchoicerealtysolutions.com/ Party of My Life is hosted and produced by Anne Morehouse. Original musi...

Funerals are evolving beyond traditional formats towards more personalized and creative celebrations. Kozlak-Radulovich Funeral Chapels' Danielle Radulovich Nelson and Daniel Gelhaus highlight key shifts, including the value of pre-planning and the increased popularity of celebrations of life.  Unique, theme-based funerals serve as a beginning towards healing, such as a Star Wars-themed funera...

Travis Easton, Regional Director of Operations at Brighton Hospice helps us learn how to select a hospice care team and how to best prepare for this life event. For more information, visit Brighton Hospice or call (952) 856-2212. To research hospice providers near you, visit Medicare.gov . This episode was produced by Anne Morehouse with original music composed and performed by Caileen Viehweg. :2...

Dogs are known to be therapeutic in many ways. In Anoka and Coon Rapids, Minnesota, Gearhart Funeral Homes has Jackie, a special canine trained specifically to help people through one of life's most difficult times. For more information, visit https://www.dignitymemorial.com/funeral-homes/minnesota/coon-rapids/gearhart-funeral-home/7236 Call 763-755-6300 or email Ryan directly at Ryan. Scharfencam...

For people who are looking for an affordable venue for a funeral reception or celebration of life, you may not need to venture farther than your local community center. Nicole Schultz from Plymouth Community Center talks about her facility, the amenities available and what people should think about when looking at their community centers as an option. This episode was hosted and produced by Anne M...

It’s the time of year when many of us will soon be surrounded by loved ones. What better opportunity to have a difficult, but critical conversation (no, not politics!).  Steve Heintz and Aaron Clark, owners of Heintz + Clark Ltd, A CPA firm in Plymouth, Minnesota, share their personal and professional experiences with end of life, both expected and unforeseen, and how it’s impacted the way they pl...

With 72+% of Minnesotans choosing cremation over burial, many are hosting their funeral receptions or celebrations of life at non-traditional venues. Lisa Albers, Sales Manager for Rush Creek Golf Club in Maple Grove, Minnesota, talks about how Rush Creek assists people during this difficult time. This episode was hosted and produced by Anne Morehouse. Original music was created and performed by C...

Music is a universal, unifying art form that may convey emotions when words are inadequate. Live music provides a unique element to reflect a person's life. Sharon Planer, owner of Pianist for Parties explains how she customizes and plans for an end-of-life service performance. This episode was hosted and produced by Anne Morehouse, original music was created and performed by Caileen Viehweg. For...

Have you or someone you know lost a pet only to discover a deep void in your day-to-day life? We talk with Joan Corbett from The Bridge Between Pet Loss Support Group about the community of pet loss, grief support and resources that are available to help people through this difficult time of healing. This episode was hosted and produced by Anne Morehouse, original music created and performed by Ca...

Long before Laurie Rengel learned of her terminal cancer diagnosis, she had her end-of-life documents in order. Laurie talks about not only how important it is for everyone to get their end-of-life plans in order, but HOW she has done it. This episode was hosted and produced by Anne Morehouse, original music created and performed by Caileen Viehweg. 1:14 Laurie Rengel introduction 2:35 Laurie'...

A lot has changed within the funeral industry. Dan McGraw, a fourth generation business owner of Gill Brothers Funeral Service & Cremation in Minneapolis, Minnesota, talks with Anne about what those changes entail. For more information: Gill Brothers Funeral Service & Cremation 952.888.7771 This episode was hosted and produced by Anne Morehouse, original music created and performed by Cail...

Megan Feller shares her experience and the lessons she learned following the death of her mother, Stephanie Feller. This episode was hosted and produced by Anne Morehouse, original music created and performed by Caileen Viehweg. To learn more about Stephanie Feller's journey, you can read about them here from LocalTies Magazine: Living a Great Story , January 2020 A Year Through COVID-19 , Dec...

For anyone with assets and belongings, children and/or pets, an estate plan is a great idea. Join us as we talk with Andy Lehner of Lehner Law Office, LLC about how to get started, the different options and what happens if we don't set up anything before we die. This episode was hosted and produced by Anne Morehouse, original music created and performed by Caileen Viehweg. Contact info for tod...

There is nothing like turning to locally owned and operated florists when paying tribute at a funeral or celebration of life. Susan Masko from Bachman's shares with us creative floral sympathy arrangements , etiquette tips , and other gift ideas . For more information: Bachman's (612) 861 - 7311 bachmans.com and store locations This episode was hosted and produced by Anne Morehouse, origin...

Minnesota Network of Hospice & Palliative Care (MNHPC) representatives Leigh Hartenberg and KaLee Mohrman discuss the differences and definitions of hospice and palliative care, the evolution of end-of-life care and the need for early planning with regular updates in advanced care directives. More information can be found on the Minnesota Network of Hospice and Palliative Care website: mnhpc.o...

For many, food is an important day-to-day life experience. Yet when planning a funeral or celebration of life, the refreshments or meal provided oftentimes isn't reflective of the life of the person being remembered. Today, Antigoni Sander, Director of Catering for Hightop Hospitality (a restaurant, retail, catering, and event venue company in the Twin Cities) shares tips and trends as it pert...

Sometimes ideas come from a place of not knowing. From a devastating loss, to a hope that something positive may come from a regret, this is a story of a paradigm shift in how we might think about end of life planning, and why it's important. Original music by Caileen Viehweg Resources: mnfuneralplanning.com

As more people are not affiliated with a church, one trend for funeral receptions or celebrations of life is to look at non-traditional venue options. One popular space in the Twin Cities is The Hutton House, located in Medicine Lake, a first tier suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota. I spoke with Nicki Gavin from The Hutton House about their recommendations regarding what people should consider when...

As we contemplate how our personal decisions impact the planet, there is an end-of-life option available in nine protected forests across the country. Tori Nonnemacher from Better Place Forests talks with us about what a Better Place Forest is, the option it provides and her own personal experience that led her to this unique business. This episode was hosted and produced by Anne Morehouse, edited...