Hi Rick, , we’ll sure miss you playing pickle ball and bocce ball. It was tough beating you. You’re In Gods hand now helping others as usual. You will always be in our hearts ❤️. We will stay in contact with Jackie. RIP pal.
Steve and Heidi

Bri was fantastic as I navigated the most difficult and shocking experience of my life. During Covid my Dad passed away completely out of the blue of a heart attack. She was incredibly supportive! Thank you Bri. -Bre

Bri was fantastic as I navigated the most difficult and shocking experience of my life. During Covid my Dad passed away completely out of the blue of a heart attack. She was incredibly supportive! Thank you Bri. -Bre

We lost our daughter Violet on June 17th. Cathy was so sweet, she came to pick her up at the hospital and had so much compassion for us. Abbie was amazing she made us very comfortable and had so much compassion for what we were going through that it made what we were going through easier. It’s a beautiful cemetery and I highly recommend them.

I would recommend the grief support group to anyone experiencing a loss. The support and experiences shared with other people dealing with the same or a similar situation was comforting. It helped a lot to know that I was not crazy and that other people were having some of the same thoughts and feelings.
The book and journal used to guide the process was extremely helpful as a guide and a grounding tool. The facilitators were also excellent at keeping the group focused and moving.

When grieving for a wife of almost 37 years, no matter how prepared I thought I was, the event turned out to be the worst thing I’ve ever experienced. Haven of Rest made the arrangements for burial very easy and was extremely helpful with all the arrangements.

Where I was completely surprised was in the care they provided the spouse. The grief support group meetings and literature provided were helpful and comforting. I think that this made the people at Haven of Rest special! They still recognized me 6 months after the funeral!

This loss has been the 2nd and I never took advantage of available resources until joining the group at Haven of Rest. I'm so glad I did. I've nothing but appreciation for how Haven of Rest provided help to me and my family. The helpfulness and sensitivity from Haven of Rest and all their staff has been very appreciated. Thank you to you all and especially Martha.

The grief support group provided me with the tools I needed to understand and work through the grieving process

Before attending Haven of Rest Grief Support Group, I met once with another widow/widower group and it turned out to be more of a women's social group rather than "companioning" each other in their grief. Haven embraced both male and female spirits. It has helped me come to the realization that I have a purpose and a need to honor my husband's life by continuing what he set out to do before he took his life.

I have come to understand I will never know the real "why" the death happened, but through reading our accompanying book and guidelines, I do not dwell on that thought as often. I have discovered that each step through the "wilderness of grief" has become more soft, less sharp. Retracing them is inevitable; I know the way forward is achievable. One will still feel the thorns, but they become a little less painful and a little farther apart.

This group has been invaluable to me. The structure and materials provide a guide through the difficult labyrinth of loss. The group has helped me get in touch with my real feelings and supported my growth through this process. The facilitators do a fantastic job of guiding and showing compassion. I am very grateful to them and to Haven of Rest.

As a member of this grief support class I would encourage anyone who has experienced a loss to check this program out as it can really help you heal and grow.

Haven of Rest Funeral Home is truly superb in the sincere care, deep compassion, and excellence of service and facility; it extends in helping the grieving in arranging meaningful memorial services. When my mother, Vera Elcano, passed away in October, 2016, Brie Smith was simply of the greatest and most astounding kindness and diligence in service and comfort. Because I live in Southern California, making arrangements required much long distance communication and coordination. Brie not only quickly understood our wishes perfectly and carried them out flawlessly, she also asked questions and offered ideas that greatly helped my family towards providing a service which will long be deeply treasured and remembered by friends and family. Brie and the Haven of Rest Home handled arrangements for a memorial service within the chapel, graveside services, and a reception following, with the utmost in seamless team work, genuine proficiency, and sincere concern. After all service ceremonies, I truly felt that this was the service my mother would have deeply appreciated and loved the most. Again, my family and myself personally could not be more grateful to Brie Smith for her leadership and the Rest of Haven staff for their wondrous efforts.
Since my mother's services, Brie has, furthermore, assisted me on numerous occasions in procuring and placing flower bouquets at my mother's graveside. Haven of Rest Funeral Home extends their care and concern far beyond the end of services. Haven of rest is uniquely excellent and I will forever be grateful to Brie and the excellent staff who continue laboring to make it so.
Michael Barrett

I wanted to share with you my experience at Haven of Rest Funeral Home in Gig Harbor when my Dad, Gary Tannahill passed away.
I met Brienna Smith when I decided to go forward and make arrangements for a memorial service for my Dad. My situation was a bit tense in dealing with emotions and personalities from other family members, but I felt a need to go ahead with a service inspite of the family differences. Brienna was awesome in helping me set up the service. She offered great ideas and the service was put together well. When she met with me she was so knowledgeable of all that was needed for the service. Her personality and professionalism in dealing with uncomfortable situations such as this, was displayed so well in mediating between family members. She turned a potentially bad situation into a beautiful and peaceful outcome. I can’t thank her enough for enabling our family to come together for a service and bring closure to our Dad’s passing, for that I am truly thankful.
Jim Tannahill

I am a man of few words, but I stand in awe, when I see Martha, and others of her kind, devoting their time in the service of the bereaved. Well done.

This year I had 2 over-whelming and traumatic deaths in my family. My daughter died September 2016, my wife August 2017.
As I swirled through a year of thick, confusing, scary smog I knew I needed help. Especially following Jan's death. I was grieving the death of Jolyn when Jan got sick. My grief for Jo was "put on hold" as I cared for Jan. I could not handle this blackness alone. I was completely on my own.
Coming to Haven of Rest Grief Support Group is a beacon of hope and a lifesaver as I make my way through this stormy, foggy journey of devastation.
As we share our stories we become one in our grief and our healing. In fact I was convinced I was not going to celebrate Christmas this year, until one of our members talked of the memories of joy while hanging special ornaments together and the special moments remembered.
After our group discussion my negativity turned to positivity. Christmas was the most special time of the year for both my daughter and my wife. I will have Christmas this year. I will get out and enjoy special ornaments and remember the love we shared. I will honor Jo and Jan.
Our discussions led to many awakenings or observations along this journey that give hope for our healing hearts. I look forward to my beacon of hope and my lifesaver each week.

The offer of a grief support group through my wife's funeral home struck me initially with a suspicion that I'd be involved in a secular, consumer-focused game show quality experience bordering on bizarre. I was wrong! With the gentle guidance of Martha(facilitator), guidance from Roger(facilitator), and willingness to be authentic and honest in our journey we built a special set of pilgrims on the journey of grief. Please keep doing this as long as you feel called!

First Thank you Brie, It is caring thoughtful people like yourself that make losing someone dear in their life just a bit easier.

May 13,2017 I lost my mother to COPD. It was fast and unexpected for me. I know there is only one place in Washington that I would trust to take care of the most important people in my life. Haven Of Rest. Brie came into my life when having to go make the final arrangements for my mother. Our situation was very different and in some aspects the emotions from family members were extreme. In such a sensitive time Brie stepped in and with all her knowledge managed to not only take care of my mother which was most important to me, but she was able to professionally mediate and turn a potentially bad situation into a beautiful and peaceful outcome. I have personally not been involved with my twin sisters life in over 25 years and with Brie's professionalism and personal skills she enabled my sister and i to come together and make peace with our past and move on for a healthier relationship. THANK YOU FROM MY HEART.

Thank you, Martha. You did a terrific job in my grief support group and I'm indebted to you for helping me make this challenging transition. And thanks to your company for providing the space and your time.

My husband, Jim, and I recently attended the Luminary event. My mother, Annina Taglieri, passed away this last year in January. This will be our first Christmas without her. Going to this event was a sweet tribute not only to my mom, but also to other families who lost a loved one this last year. The service was lovely and very heartfelt. I enjoyed very much making an ornament in honor of my mom. I also made an extra one to hang on my own tree at home. We all wrote letters to our loved one too. For me, my mom's passing came too fast and not expected. I wrote this to her in the letter and told her that we would all miss having her presence here on Christmas. I was happy for her though because I knew she would be celebrating Christmas with my dad and other family members whom she has missed very much. It had also been a very blustery day, but when it came time to place mom's name in the luminary bag, the rains somehow magically stopped for that short time so that we could all participate in this very meaningful walk. Participating in this Luminary service made us all take time to honor our loved ones in a very special way. Thank you to Martha Bryant for all the hard work that was put in to make it a very memorable, beautiful event!

When my Dad (Vern Gormanson) was in his late 80's he decided it was time to make sure all his funeral arrangements were in order. He wasn't driving any longer so could not come to Haven of Rest. Irene Schwab said she would go to his home to help him with the arrangements. They went through all the details and everything was arranged. She was very helpful and made sure my Dad understood each detail. When they were done he was very satisfied that his children would have nothing to deal with and everything was in order.

When he passed, the funeral director went to Harrison and picked him up and brought him to Haven, where he was cremated. Everyone was very compassionate and helpful, and all went as my Dad had planned.

Thank you Haven and Irene for all your kindness and compassion for my father. We were very pleased with all your help.