Thought about Planting a Tree For A Loved One? Treeternity is a Trusted Saskatoon Memorial forest and they offer an eco-friendly, modern way to celebrate an event, loved one, pet or family with a tree and plaque in a beautiful park. Treeternity, allows you to celebrate or remember an important person or aspect of your life in an environmentally positive way. 

LET A TREE TELL YOUR STORY...

Treeternity is your Trusted Saskatoon Memorial Forest and in this article, they share a personal story. ' A Time to Remember'

 Rob Wurzer's Story by Maureen Haddock

As long as I live, I will think of Rob Wurzer every November. Rob, our friend and business partner, passed away on November 4, 2016. We held his public memorial on what would have been his 58th birthday. He was born on November 11, 1958.

The summer of 2016 will, forever, be Rob’s summer. As his health declined, my husband, who was Rob’s executor, spent many hours at the hospital discussing the business, the estate, and more personal concerns. I spent time with his wife talking about life, death, and remembering. Somehow, during this time, I heard about a magical, memorial forest, just west of Saskatoon. This forest, still in its infancy, is the vision of Mia Hollinger. When we suggested to Rob that his memorial place be in a forest, he immediately liked the idea. Rob also loved the idea that Treeternity was a new business endeavour, like TVTruck, the company we shared with Rob. He was able to vividly imagine the forest, as it might look in the future.

Treeternity is a place to remember people, pets, accomplishments, and occasions. You can even plant a family tree, adding additional plaques, as the family expands. People love to visit green spaces, and each tree in the memorial park is surrounded by protected land.  You can visit the Treeternity website to watch a video illustrating how this memorial forest might look in its maturity. The site also provides a way to reach Mia Hollinger, owner and developer of the memorial forest. Mia’s blog, also on her website, covers sensitive issues and offers helpful suggestions on many topics. While in the process of planning Rob’s memorial tribute, I called Mia for more information about Treeternity. Mia made it possible for Rob’s friends and family to make a donation to Rob’s memorial tree, in lieu of flowers. She provided a site map, and we were able to select a plot with meaningful coordinates. We decided Rob’s oak tree would be planted in plot 11 of row 58, reflecting his birth date of 11,11,1958. Of course, we had to wait until spring to actually plant his tree.  

Rob’s tree was about five feet tall when we planted it in June of 2017, and Burr Oaks grow about a foot a year. I plan to have a photo taken beside Rob’s tree each year since it was approximately my height when we planted it. With luck, it will be as tall as my husband, Gord, by the summer of 2018. We personalized a 9” by 5” plaque with a favourite quote. Mia was available to help us with every question and decision. I wondered what might happen if something unforeseen occurred to the business. Mia assured me that Treeternity has an agreement with the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation to donate the land as wildlife conservation, so memorial trees will be enjoyed by future generations.

On the day of the planting, we kept the group small, knowing we had already celebrated with a public ceremony. Initially, Rob’s wife held the tree as each of us placed some dirt around the roots. She sprinkled some of Rob’s ashes there, too. We talked and took photos, and, as we walked away, we were given a certified keepsake certificate. I still remember Rob laughing at the idea of being a tree, symbolically, of course. I love the idea of sitting in the gazebo at Treeternity, some summer in the future, talking to my husband about our time with Rob and remembering the summer of 2016. It’s a quiet, beautiful, young park, and I intend to watch it grow old.

My mother-in-law, at 97, loves the poem Trees. I imagine you have guessed what I am thinking. Since Treeternity is a place to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and other milestones, I think we could give her a tree for her 98th birthday. After all, Treeternity is a happy place.

By Joyce Kilmer

I think that I shall never see

A poem as lovely as a tree. 

A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed 

Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast. 

A tree that looks at God all day 

And lifts her leafy arms to pray 

A tree that may in summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair

Upon whose bosom snow has lain

Who intimately lives with rain

Poems are made by fools like me  

But only God can make a tree.