A Bower for Remembrance
The word bower captivated me at an early age—a sanctuary in the natural world, a place of dappled sunlight, quiet observation, and peace. My work as an end-of-life event planner is guided by this idea:
To create spaces of respite, beauty, and deep connection, where remembrance unfolds in a way that feels personal and true.
About KARIN ROY
My journey with death and remembrance began in childhood.
My maternal family were Jewish refugees, and witnessing my mother’s terminal illness at a young age gave me an early, profound introduction to life’s impermanence. This sparked a lifelong curiosity about how individuals and cultures navigate death—what we embrace, what we turn away from, and how we honor those who have gone before us.
As a teenager and young adult immersed in high-adrenaline sports, I lost peers. Later, as a member of creative communities in the '80s and '90s, I stood witness to the devastation, grief, and resilience surrounding the AIDS crisis. For six years, I volunteered in an AIDS hospice and day program while raising my two sons—an experience that deepened my understanding of both loss and the necessity of tending to the emotional and practical needs of the dying and their loved ones.
Over the decades, I have accrued direct experiences with death that have shaped my capacity to listen, to hold space, and to help others explore and clarify what each passing and remembrance needs.
Lynne
“When deep in grief, I sought out support from those who were familiar with this landscape, who intimately knew this territory. Karin was one with whom I sought refuge, support, and comfort. I trusted, and trust, her presence and holding around loss, death, grief, and appreciate her ability to accompany me through some dark and challenging times.”