As Michigan’s first ever funeral home therapy dog, Hollie the golden retriever, was honored in her own former place of work, the Betzler Life Story Funeral Home on the 13th of February.
Hollie had been working at the funeral home for years, serving as a comforting presence to those grieving and attending funerals at the location, before passing away a few weeks ago.
Hollie had originally been a part of a pet visitation program that was directed towards nursing home, which her Daddy – as one of the members of Kalamazoo Humane Society’s board of directors – had helped to come up with. The success of the program led him to decide to host a similar one for funeral homes.
Hollie had been a gifted and intuitive pup, always knowing who needed her most at wakes, visitations, and funerals. She helped countless different people cope with loss and made them feel safe and soothed. Many who she has helped remember her clearly as guiding them through their troubled time, and for that, Hollie will always be remembered.
Images & Feature Image Source: Betzler Life Story Funeral Home