At Parting Stone, we have the profound privilege of helping families find meaningful ways to remember their loved ones. As we commemorate serving 10,000 families, we reflect on the stories of love, loss, and enduring connection that have been shared with us. Each family’s journey is unique, yet all are bound by the universal desire to keep their loved ones close.
Through the transformative process of solidified remains, these families have been able to create beautiful, tangible connections to those they’ve lost. Whether carried on travels, placed in special locations, or kept close at home, these stones serve as lasting reminders of cherished memories.
The stories that follow are just a handful of the many that make up our 10,000 families. They highlight the deep impact that Parting Stone has had on people’s lives—offering comfort, connection, and a new way to honor the ones we love.
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Kari
Chose Parting Stone for her husband, Jeff
“I have sent my husband's stones out around the world with friends and family. He is currently in Egypt, Machu Picchu, Italy, France, Spain, Michigan, Hawaii, California, Croatia, where he will now remain forever. He was a traveler and loved adventure and we could think of no better way to honor him than to send him to incredible places. Jeff was born in Michigan and moved to Maui after attending college at Central Michigan to pursue a career working with children with emotional and learning difficulties. We met when I was 23 and he was 24 while I was on vacation with my family in Maui. Our love story lasted 26 years and includes having a daughter and a son now aged 25 and 23.
When Jeff wasn't pouring his time into education, he was writing novels and planning our families next great adventures. During our life together we took our children to New Zealand, Fiji, Tahiti, Palau, St. Thomas, Hawaii and had many road trips. He and I had plans to go to Europe and Croatia when he passed away suddenly in the early morning on 11/11/2021. Anyone will tell you that the numbers 11/11 are magical and Jeff certainly was full of magic.
When we lost Jeff we were approached by a neighbor who had been considering Parting Stone for his brother who had recently passed. It was ironic because Jeff would bring special rocks home for our yard whenever we went on vacation. He collected them as reminders of our travels. Parting Stone seemed like a perfect way to honor him and his adventurous spirit.
I received the rocks after a couple months' wait. The communication and process was seamless and we were appreciative as we did not want him misplaced. When he arrived I ended up running into a friend that very day and he was leaving for Machu Picchu. The ironic thing was Jeff had been talking about going there our entire life together. It was at the top of his bucket list and he planned to hike it with our daughter someday. My friend was the first person to take Jeff anywhere and it was to one of the most incredible places in the world.
From there he was sent to his best friend and family in Michigan. My daughter took him to France as did my little sister. My neighbor took him to Egypt and left him near the pyramids. My friend took him and left him in a waterfall in Croatia. He is in multiple locations in Italy and the final place he has been placed most recently is on The Camino De Santiago Trail in Spain. I took him to Maui and left him in the waters of the beach where we met and he's also in the ocean where we call home. I have many stones left and hopefully many more travels ahead including New Orleans which was our last trip together in 2021. He will be left somewhere special when I go in February.
Knowing he rests under the stars in all of these places or in the beautiful waters of the ocean he loved makes me feel as though I have honored him to his core.”
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Lisa
Chose Parting Stone for her sister, Jane
“My sister, Jane, had lived in Houston, and the rest of us siblings are all scattered across Ohio. Her favorite city was New Orleans. She would visit there at least 3 times a year. She always stayed in the same guest house, The Hotel Villa Convento on Ursuline, for close to 40 years. The owners treated her like family and cried with me when I called with the news of her death.
She and I would frequently meet in New Orleans for Easter weekend (we were both teachers so the extended weekend was perfect for a short break) and stay in side by side rooms.
All over New Orleans, wherever possible, we left stones at her favorite places. There is a stone in one of the big planters in front of the Aquarium of the Americas and one in a flower bed at the Audubon Zoo. There are stones at a couple of the trolley stops on the riverfront line. Each person [at her memorial] was given a stone to place where they thought she would like to be. I gave a stone to the hotel owner and he asked for a picture of her; these items now sit on a shelf behind the check-in desk.
Not only did her remains get scattered in a city she loved, but I was given the opportunity to show her favorite city to people new to the city.
I've heard people talk about scattering ashes, which seems really messy to me. This was a great solution. The stones were easily transported as we bopped around the city and we can still visualize where they landed at each place. The bonus to this solution was that my sister loved stones. She was always picking up stones. So this kind of brought her full circle. ”
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Steve
Chose Parting Stone for his cat, Cougo
“I sent one stone to each of two people who were instrumental in my pet’s care and welfare before he passed away. One went to a friend who helped rescue Cougo as a newborn kitten and nourished him through the first weeks of his life.
The second person was the veterinarian, Dr. Molly DeVincent, from an organization called Lap Of Love. She so gently and graciously administered the euthanasia procedure that released Cougo from the cancer that finally overwhelmed him. I owe a debt of gratitude to both of these fine folks for the roles they played in contributing to the quality of my pets life and the gentle way in which the veterinarian helped him pass on.”
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Jacqueline
Chose Parting Stone for her dad
“When my dad came home in his stone form, we (myself, my husband, and our three kids) took a family trip with his stones to the black hills of South Dakota. He took me camping there a lot when I was a child and continued that tradition with my children. He was the best papa, and we all loved hiking and camping with him. We plan to keep many of his stones, but we left two in really beautiful places and had a small little ceremony where we remembered him and then threw his stones into two different waterfalls, on two different hikes. They were both waterfalls that we had hiked to with my dad just a few years before he died. We let my son, who is 8, throw the first stone, and my daughter, who is 5, throw the second one. My youngest is only 1, so he will get to throw one sometime in the future, after we can tell him all about my dad. We lost him when my son was only 6 months old, so my dad did get to meet him, but only for those short six months. My dad passed away from colon cancer. He was so full of life until cancer took him. He was a billiards player, best in town at the game - the played all over the US in his lifetime, from Vegas to LA to Billings, and then back home, in South Dakota. His stones that we have at home are all over our house - my kids have some that they play with, like in tea parties and things like that, and I'm an artist, so I've painted my dad's portrait on one of the stones, and I plan to paint more in the future. We have a nice little display of his stones in the dining room. We also gave one stone to all of his closest people (which was all of his siblings, his mom, and 5 of his best friends) . We love that we chose to turn him into something tangible that we can hold, his stones make the grieving process just a little less hard I think.”
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Jo
Chose Parting Stone for her husband, Jonathan
“The stones are the remains of my husband, who died suddenly from a heart event in September 2021 at 57 years of age. Our daughter and I have left his stones in various parks where he loved to visit, in the lake he sailed on, on her college campus (he died at the beginning of her senior year of high school), in the flower vase container in the cemetery where my parents and grandparents are buried, at a shrine in Pennsylvania, in another lake he loved; he has traveled with us on vacation, rests near a photograph of him in our dining room, and is on the nightstands of my daughter and me.
He is also with his sister, with my brother, and may travel/end up in places we have yet to go. We find it a supremely comforting way to have him with us as we continue on without him.”
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Eden, Robin, and Tamara
Chose Parting Stone for their parents, Cele and Gene
“This is a love story that goes back 70 years, but it took a tragic turn 24 years into this beautiful, loving relationship between a boy and a girl. You see, this handsome, kind, 6ft 4, wonderful husband and father lost his precious life to cancer at just 49. He had three sweet daughters whom he adored very deeply, who would miss him their entire lives. Most of all he had a loving, devoted wife, one who stood by him through thick and thin, sickness and health, who would love him until she lost her cherished life at 92. This devoted wife and mom always talked about her Prince Charming and how much she missed him. Her love and commitment to him never wavered for all those years without him even when Alzheimer’s took much of her memory away. She always talked about being cremated just like her beloved husband so their ashes could be mixed together. We three daughters of these wonderful and special parents never imagined that mixing the ashes of both of them could be done in such a beautiful and meaningful way as with Parting Stone.
So, after 45 years of our Mom and Dad being separated, we were able to bring them back together in this special way. Thank you to Parting Stone for giving us something solid to touch and hold on to as we remember both our Mom and Dad. Because of this amazing process we have been able to bring our parents to all the places we wish we could have gone and seen as a family.
Hawaii, Alaska, Maine, Rhode Island, the beach, the rivers, the cliffs, we are so grateful that even though we no longer have our Mom and Dad with us, we as their three daughters can still create beautiful memories because of Parting Stone.”
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Pam B
Chose Parting Stone for her Mother, Alberta
“I live in Rio Rancho, NM and brought the parting stones on the plane to Jacksonville, FL for Mom’s Celebration of Life in April 2023. We had a leader conduct the Jewish service at River Garden Hebrew Home, where she had many friends. After the service, I announced the parting stones, which I had individually bagged and placed printed care instructions into each bag. I invited the guests; about 25 attending, to pick a stone.
We had over 30 stones and they were just about gone by the end. I enlisted my niece to prepare a computerized pictorial montage with music which was played following the service. We enjoyed some nosh while picking the stones and viewing the montage. As a tribute to Mom’s playful nature and love of children, I placed a stone in the mouth of a dolphin in a park at Jacksonville Beach. My BFF tossed one into the Atlantic; Mom so loved the beach!”
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Kaitlyn
Chose Parting Stone for her Husband, Matt
“Matt actually wanted his cremains to be shot off in a firework. I remember the day he told me that when asked, without missing a beat. I think he thought they would all be in a firework but research later told me it was just a tiny bit. I was able to make that part happen for him, but then I wasn't sure what to do with the rest of the cremains. Then I found Parting Stone and it all clicked into place for me. Matt loved rocks, and would find and collect them wherever we went as a souvenir. He was also a potter, so once I found out the process and how the stones were fired in a kiln it all just felt so right and so natural for him. He is with his family and some friends. And I now take him with me whenever I travel. 
He is in the creek at his family cabin, the woods from our first date, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, Greece, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, and even New Zealand in Hobbiton now. Some of his favorite places and others that he never got to go, but I can carry him with me. I'm forever thankful for the work that Parting Stone does.”
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Ginger
Chose Parting Stone for her Mother, Ernestina
Ginger hosted a reveal event when she received her Mother’s stones, which she describes below:
“It was approximately 10 people at the event, at the end of 2021. It was my sisters and I, our spouses/partners, and children. We held it at my home. We had been anticipating receiving the stones, so to actually have them in our hands was comforting. We were also curious to see if the stones had any coloration to them. The most memorable part was just being able to see my daughter and nieces be able to share in the reveal. My mom had passed away 9 years prior, so three of the grandchildren didn't know her. I think having these stones helped us connect them to her in a small way. We distributed the stones amongst our family. We each took one or two, gave some to close family (such as my mom's sisters/nieces), and we also have some saved. We plan on leaving a few stones at her favorite beach location.
My mom, Ernestina, was a remarkable woman in my eyes. She had a tough childhood, but she wasn't one to complain or feel sorry for herself. She did what she had to in order to care for her family, both as a child, and as an adult. She was a Christian and she lived her life in a way that showed compassion, love, and tenderness to her family and others. She was an amazing cook, had a love of nature, and had a childlike approach to life. She was an amazing grandmother to my two older nieces. She was unlike anyone I have ever known.”
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Cindy
Chose Parting Stone for her Husband, Steve
“Steve and I had made arrangements with the Neptune Society for cremation, but after his passing in 2020, I came across Parting Stone and felt that solidifying his remains would offer a more meaningful way to keep him close. Four months after his death, I placed an order.
Steve was the love of my life for 40 years—kind, thoughtful, and a man who could light up any room with his warmth and humor. He loved spending time outdoors, whether it was walking our dog or enjoying time by the water, and he had a sweet tooth, especially for chocolate cake, which became a special tradition for us over the years.
Losing Steve at just 65 made me question what the future would look like without him. The grief was overwhelming, and I often felt lost. But when his stones arrived, I found something I didn’t expect—hope. Holding them gave me a tangible connection to him, something that brought comfort during such an uncertain time. It felt like a way to keep a part of Steve with me, even as I tried to navigate life without him.
The stones became a powerful part of how I remember and share Steve’s presence. I shared stones with family and friends, and to this day, I carry one with me wherever I go. I also have stacks of stones throughout my home, which brings me a sense of peace, as if Steve is always here with me.
On the first anniversary of Steve’s death, we gathered with friends to mark the occasion. We placed one of the stones in a motorized boat and let it sail across a pond where we lived. Everyone watched as the stone took its journey in the boat before finally falling into the water, a meaningful and beautiful tribute to Steve’s memory. Afterward, we returned home and shared Steve’s favorite chocolate cake, a simple but heartfelt way to honor him and reflect on the man we all loved. The solidified remains offer something unique—unlike a grave or a memorial site, I don’t need to go somewhere specific to feel connected to him. The stones are here, woven into my everyday life, giving me the comfort of his presence without the need for a formal visit to talk to him.
Beyond my own experience, those I’ve shared the stones with have found solace in them as well. They’ve told me how having a piece of Steve has helped them in their grief, and some have even shared pictures and personal stories of their experiences with the stones.
This has been especially important for our only child, Erica, who was very close to her father. Without any siblings to share this loss, the stones have provided Erica with a way to hold onto that connection and cope with the weight of grief. Having something physical and tangible to remember her father has been deeply comforting for her.
This experience has profoundly shaped how I navigate my grief, giving me a way to feel close to Steve always”
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Linda
Chose Parting Stone for her husband, Eddie
“Parting Stones have brought great comfort to my family and I. It's a great way for us to honor our loved ones. My daughter, Miranda, graduated college, and thanks to Parting Stone, her Dad got to be there for her special day. One of Eddie's stones was with me in my purse at her graduation. Just last month she got engaged and he will be in my pocket at her wedding as well. Thank you for allowing her to have a way to continue to have him there for her.
Here was my original facebook post/memorial that I made on the one year anniversary of Eddie's passing:
This last trip around the sun without you, Eddie, has been the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. You left us a year ago today, and while everyone assures me “it’ll get easier”, I am still waiting for that to happen. The kids and I finally managed to overcome Hawaii COVID travel restrictions and bring you “home” this week. I know you were a NC boy (born and raised), but Kauai is where you wanted to be - where you wanted to grow old…where you wanted to retire, live peacefully and quietly. Now you get to grow old with the mountains here.
We brought your cremation stones here, and scattered them in your favorite places, so that you can rest in the beauty, in the peace, and in the Aloha of your favorite place. I rented a beautiful villa right on the ocean, and when we arrived, as the kids and I happily looked out over the pool and hot tub the first night at the sunset over the water, we were commenting on how much you would have loved this place. So I took a walk the next morning right on the beach here and left some of your stones in the surf and water right in front of this villa, so that you’ll always share in the wonderful happy memories the kids and I made together this week.
We went to Poipu beach, where you loved body surfing, and where we’d just float in the ocean on so many happy afternoons. I brought some of your stones into the water there so you can always enjoy that beautiful water.
And the condo that we kept renting year after year–the one you (not so jokingly) wanted to buy? Where you’d insist on sleeping with the sliding door open on the balcony so you could fall asleep to the sound of the waves crashing on the rocks every night… And where we’d sit out on the lanai every night, with fruity drinks, watching the sunset…I sat on the rocks, watching the turtles swim below, and scattered some of your stones there, so you can always hear the sounds of those waves at night.
We also drove up to Waimea Canyon–such a vast scenic difference to the ocean, but you loved the beauty and expanse of it. I knew you’d want some of your stones there.
Then there is Barking Sands- the US Pacific Naval Base here on the island. I repeated a very familiar tradition – stopping by the NEX, getting gas, and taking a walk on the deserted beach by Shenanigans. I know you would have appreciated having some of your stones scattered in the surf there, right offshore of the base. Your military service was (rightfully so) very important to you, and it made me proud to know I could honor you by including the Naval base in your forever resting place.
Then we braved the bumpy dirt road past Shipwreck beach to Gillin's beach (the isolated Poipu beach) one afternoon. You were always game for those “Linda adventures” when I’d want to explore going off the beaten path. I know you’d like having some of your stones left there.
On the way, we passed through the Tunnel of Trees going into Poipu. So beautiful and peaceful. You always would lean over and kiss me every time we drove through them, so I kissed a couple of your stones and left them there in the shade at the base of one of those trees.
We drove all the way up north and climbed into the lava cave, and while it was too rough to swim at Ha’ena beach that day, we had done it many times before, so leaving some of your stones on the northernmost side of the island seemed fitting as well.
Last, and certainly not least, I saved your favorite location for today….Polihale. You even loved saying it. You loved everything about it…the crazy, bumpy drive to get there, the seclusion, the unmatched beauty, the sand dunes, the cliffs starting the Napali coast, the many happy memories and times spent there. In many ways for you, it symbolized everything you loved about Kauai. I sat in the sand, as I cast the last of your stones into the surf, thinking, “You are “home”, resting where you wanted to be. Aloha, Baby, I miss you so very very much.”
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Pam
Chose Parting Stone for her Husband, John
"My husband John was diagnosed with late-stage liver cancer on 4/20/20 and passed on 7/26/20. His work experience was diverse, though his degree was in geology. In the few months after his diagnosis, he expressed to me that he wanted to be cremated, and for his ashes to be incorporated into a work of art by our niece and her husband, who are artists. They were honored to be chosen, but did not work in mediums that would easily incorporate ashes. As an alternate option I was shown the Parting Stone website, and immediately felt that this was the PERFECT way to honor my favorite geologist. What could be better than to turn him into beautiful stones!?!?!
Our niece’s husband offered to create a shadow box to house the beautiful stones. John was Canadian, and he loved the trillium plant that grows wild in Ontario in the spring. This plant’s white flower has three petals, and he often said that it resembled our little family of 3. The shadow box is built partly of Canadian maple, and beautifully displays John’s stones in the ‘petal’ portion, and stones from his personal collection are represented in the ‘leaves.’
Because John died during COVID, we were not able to hold a memorial for him at the time, so a year after his death in July 2021 we held a gathering to remember his life. John had gone to our daughter’s classroom a few times and talked about geology, and he would always have a dish of polished stones for each student to choose for their own. I offered the same to those who came to honor him. We held the gathering at the pavilion of our subdivision, located on a small lake. The tables featured things from his life, martial arts uniforms, hard hat, computer wirings, and lastly, the beautiful trillium holding John’s stones."
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Joy
Chose Parting Stone for her Husband
“Our grandkids live in California and South Carolina so I bought some leather pouches and put a Parting Stone in each one. Then I sent them to the kiddos so they could carry their special angel (Gramps) in the car. He is always looking out for them. Thank you so much for turning his ashes into something we can hold.😇”
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Tina
Chose Parting Stone for her Husband, Harry
“After attempting to scatter some of Harry's ashes and having the wind blow him around–on me and up my nose–I laughed and decided there had to be a better way. It is so amazing how many people have embraced his stones, from traveling, to meditation, to comfort. They make us all smile.
Occasionally, my daughters will ask if I have any stones left. My grandchildren cherish them. I smile when they ask if Papa Harry is coming along.
We had a celebration of life gathering/family reunion at Bay Beach, Green Bay, Wisconsin. Around 50 loved ones attended. There was a memorial table set up for Harry that included his stones and a memorial card in a beautiful, colorful taffeta bag. Also on the table we had albums from his favorite artist, Harry Chapin, and binders full of his accomplishments. I could not forget anything from his Ariane satellite launches he was so proud to broadcast.
The stones were offered to guests. They were amazed and impressed at them and never heard of Parting Stone. They agreed it was so Harry. His life was cut short by cancer, but he lives on through others. You see, Harry was larger than life and deserved to continue on his endless bucket list. “
Below is an excerpt from a memorial post Tina made on the 2 year anniversary of Harry’s passing:
“It seems hard to believe that it has already been 2 years since you have been gone.
Gone but not forgotten, thanks to Parting Stone. After trying to scatter ashes, I thought there had to be a better way. Parting Stone gave me a much better option. We have had more fun placing his stones in places he would love.
He is at a Cliff Dwelling in Mesa Verde.
He is at the Roseman Covered Bridge in IA channeling his inner Clint Eastwood.
He is at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park.
He is at the Corn Palace.
He is on the sidelines at Lambeau Field.
He has been kayaking.
He is in my brother's motorcycle bag road tripping.
He rode the Zippin Pippin at Bay Beach.
He is behind home plate at a baseball field.
He is in my sister's rhubarb patch dreaming of her jam.
He is in my grandkids treehouse.
He has been whale watching and unlike me did not get seasick.
He has been on a Christmas tree lot in Chicago where a Polish customer delivered Kolaches. She must have known they were one of his favorites.
He has seen Trans Siberian Orchestra live and also Michael Buble.
He has been to Ted's flag football games probably yelling as loud as Holly and I.
He has been at Hazel's cheerleading.
Hazel reminded me to bring "Papa Harry" along when we went to Hawaii.
Ted and Olive found the perfect place for him on the lava rocks on the beach in Kona. They made sure he was high enough so he would not be washed away and could enjoy the waves and sunsets.
And last but not least, he is at the Cana Island Lighthouse in Door County, on my second attempt. After my first attempt I walked away and some people passed me. The next thing I heard was, "What a beautiful smooth, white rock!!" I thought NO. With all the rocks on the lakeshore it can't be Harry.
Do I yell at her, "Put my husband down" or "Quit fondling my husband!" I assumed I was overreacting. So, after she left, I went on a Harry search. He was gone. Gone with another family on another adventure.
When Dusty and Tracy came down from the lighthouse I told them,
"Harry was poached!!" They were like, "WHAT?" So I told them the story.
Dusty summed it up the best.
He said, "That is so Harry," and he was right.
So Harry's adventures continue. Tomorrow we are headed to Red Rocks and Evergreen.
His stones make me smile and cross off a bucket list cut too short.”
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As we celebrate the journey of 10,000 families who have chosen Parting Stone, we are deeply moved by the stories of love, remembrance, and connection they have shared. Each stone represents a life cherished, a bond unbroken, and a legacy carried forward in meaningful ways. Whether placed in a favorite location, held close at home, or shared among loved ones, these stones offer a comforting and tangible way to keep memories alive.
If you’d like to learn more about solidified remains and how they can offer a lasting connection to your loved one, we invite you to reach out to our team support@partingstone.com. Ready to start the process? Place your order here.