Gia lost her husband, Jonas, suddenly and tragically, just six months after her sister Honora passed. Widowed and a mother, she continued to see friends and family pass and understand the difficulty and importance of planning a memorial that adequately honors those we lost. Always a decorator and party planner for all occasions, Gia found meaning and healing in discovering ways to make gatherings intentional and beautiful to honor both those who are still living and those that we have lost.

The patriarch of the Rupp family passed in 2010, Honora (far right), the oldest of his girls passed in 2023, and when Jonas (Gia’s husband) was killed in 2024, the universe pushed the sisters to create a service to help those who are grieving create an honoring, creative celebration of life. The impulse extended not just to memorials, but to celebrate the lives of those still living. To gather with family over happy occasions and not only sad ones takes effort and appreciation of milestones. Both are vital to commemorate together.

After Gia’s husband was killed, Alice and their other remaining sisters, Johanna and Sophia, swooped in to put together a beautiful celebration of life to honor their brother-in-law of 22 years and support their baby sister and her family in this shocking and painful time. Like the many celebrations (and celebrations of life) they had planned over the year, the focus was beauty, connection with nature and connection with the people. Now with Seasons of Life Celebrations, Alice and Gia focus on creating these same moments for others with the same love and care.