Symbols of You: Treasured Connections After We Are Gone

I used to dream of having our family together day after day for months (especially my teens who are always on the go). However, the novelty of “family togetherness” wore off quickly during the pandemic and I missed my alone time. To find the solitude I needed, I started the practice of walking a couple of miles every morning.

I am fortunate to live in a safe area with beautiful surroundings, but the most enjoyable part of my route has been to walk through the city cemetery.

The grounds at the cemetery are well-kept and the paths are lined with decades-old trees. It is a heavenly scene in the mornings when the sun comes up in the east and the light breaks through the branches and leaves. The smell of freshly mowed grass or rain on the pavement whispers to me to slow my pace and breathe. Normally I struggle to set aside the endless list of tasks running through my head but not here. Something happens to my soul. The stillness is overwhelming and my mind yields to it, every time.

Recently I have started to take note of the small ornaments and trinkets being left on various headstones. For a few days, I took different paths through the cemetery to see what I could find. The stuffed frog, the toy car, and the can of Pepsi, among other things made me curious.

Perhaps the frog represented the comfort of childhood bedtime stories; the toy car—a shared hobby with a parent or grandparent; the can of soda—summers on the lake or late night memories with a friend. I wondered why these objects were chosen. What did they represent about the deceased, about the giver?

One day my 16-year-old son agreed to go on a walk with me. When we arrived at the cemetery I pointed out my observation with the trinkets. We talked about some of them and their possible meanings. I asked him what he would choose to leave on my grave? As his mother, I wanted him to say, “A big heart, because I appreciate all you do and I know you love me so much.” He gave no response, so I filled the silence by switching my question to “What would people put on your grave? What would be your symbol?” We chuckled as he said, “Maybe an Xbox controller?”

As much as I wanted to start a deep conversation about his life and what he was doing with his time, I didn’t. I remember at that age feeling like death was so distant and would never happen to my invincible self.

We stood there for a minute in silence and then continued our walk home. A few weeks later, my nephew Ammon was killed in a tragic car accident. He was also 16-years-old and my son’s best friend. The loss has been indescribable. Often, I fail to console my son, my sister, or myself.

My walks are different now. I see the pain in some and the acceptance in others when they arrive to honor their loved ones: The elderly man who sits in his car and reads his paper to be close to his wife, the family that picnics in the cemetery a few times during the summer, and the mother who mourns her son that died too young.

The clunky trinkets that once seemed random and out of place to me, don’t clash with the traditional flowers or windmills anymore. They are living exactly where they need to be.

– Michelle Mulford

Michelle Mulford and her husband are the parents of four kids. She has always been fascinated by the way words have the power to heal a heart or inspire change. She feels that the most beautiful gifts in life are found in the untouched, simple things and that kindness can move mountains.

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Mike Christian

Back-End Developer & DevOps​

Mike is one of those brilliant, self-taught, back end developers that you always hear about. As a youth he could trust that “My mother would love me no matter what . . .” When he isn’t cranking out new code, Mike keeps up on the newest technologies and every Tuesday and Thursday nights he trains SpeedSoft with his team.

Rafael Pampoch

Web Developer

Rafael has his degree in Marketing and Advertising and years of experience with our dev team. As a teen he could trust that “The most important thing in life is love, and the most valuable things are our family and friends.” When he isn’t working on making the website and mobile versions of Trustyy seamless and functional, he unwinds by exploring nature. His favorite activities are climbing mountains, camping, going to the beach, swimming, playing the harmonica and always learning new things.

Afton Wilde

Accounting

Afton’s experience is in marketing and bookkeeping.  As a teen she could trust that with her parents “Feeding the horses and milking the cow each day before school–not after–was a must.”  When she isn’t busy with keeping Trustyy’s lights on, you’ll usually find her baking up a new treat or working on a sewing project.

Nicoli Cristini

Marketing Assistant

Nicoli has a degree in Multimedia Production.  She has worked with our team of developers for three years.  She learned to trust her own parents when they taught her “Things won’t come easy and that working hard will bring me great blessings!”  When she isn’t putting together beautiful marketing pieces for the Trustyy App she likes to take pictures, play the guitar, piano, and drums, and meet up with her family to laugh over the silly things they did as kids.

Adriano Rodrigues

Mobile Developer

Adriano is certified in Analysis and Systems Development.  In his family he could trust the fact that “One difficult experience teaches me that failure is not the end, but rather an opportunity for growth and learning.”  When he is away from his work in making sure the Trustyy App buttons and bells and whistles are working properly, he likes to go to the gym, to the beach to surf, on walks with his dog, or go out with his girlfriend.

Lucas Baumgart

Product Designer

Lucas’s work experience is in User Experience, Interface Design and Product Management. As a teen he could trust that “In my home honesty was highly valued and lying was not tolerated.”  When he isn’t at work making sure the Trustyy App is easy on the eyes, Lucas likes hiking, gaming, going out for dinner, and spending time with family.

Cadu Olivera

Front End Developer

Cadu has his education in Analysis and System Development.  While growing up he could always trust that “My parents would be there to support from playing soccer at the park to learning to ride a bike.”   When he isn’t making sure things are easily navigated for our Trustyy App users, he likes to play beach soccer and enjoy music of any type, but specifically rock, country, R&B, and pop.

Mike Curi

Back End Developer

Mike is one of those brilliant, self-taught, back-end developers that you always hear about. As a youth he could trust that “My mother would love me no matter what.” When he isn’t cranking out new code, Mike keeps up on the newest technologies and every Tuesday and Thursday nights he trains SpeedSoft with his team. 

Roxanne Thayne

Co-Founder/Chief Marketing Officer

Roxanne received her bachelor’s degree in history and secondary education.  She has worked in publishing and marketing for the past 14 years.  In her family Roxanne says she could trust that “Her grammar and posture would be consistently corrected, to help her to become a lady.”  When she isn’t busy writing and beautifying things for the Trustyy App, you can find her reading biographies, practicing yoga, or gathering the family to talk business, celebrate wins or just plain hang out.

Sidney Rodrigues

Co-Founder/Chief Technology Officer

Sidney has a bachelor’s degree in Web Development and has worked in technology for 16 years, building apps for the last 10 years. Growing up he could trust that “It was always expected that I would fix anything related to technology.”  When he isn’t managing the development of the Trustyy App, you will find him spending time with his wife and kids. He loves to make Brazillian BBQ with his family.

Jim Lee

Co-Founder/Chief Product Officer

Jim has a degree in Design and over 25 years of experience creating SaaS products and managing talented product and development teams.  In his years at home as the oldest of five he could trust that “Each child got a weekly ‘night-up’ where we got to stay up late with a parent and do anything we wanted with them.”  When he isn’t looking 10 miles down the road for what will come next on the Trustyy App, you will find Jim canyoneering, doing photography, watercolor painting, or keeping up on the latest gadgets and technologies.

Eric Turner

Co-Founder/Chief Operations Officer

Eric earned his degree in Communications, Public Relations and Advertising, then added on an MBA.  He says he could trust that “His parents were honest people who kept their commitments–especially to their kids.”  When Eric isn’t keeping everyone at Trustyy on task, he is an outdoor enthusiast, year around, rain or shine, cold or hot, with biking in the summer and skiing in the winter.

Tim Thayne

Founder | Chief Executive Officer

Tim earned masters and doctoral degrees in Marriage and Family Therapy, and has 30 years of experience working with families.  While growing up Tim says he could trust that “My mother would love me no matter what, and that my dad would require that I respect my mother.”  When he isn’t busy guiding the vision for the Trustyy App, you can find Tim working around the house and yard, taking care of his sheep, dogs and horses, or enjoying a game of Corn Hole with the family.