Meet Jackie Cruz of Everlasting Lifecasts & Memorial Casting in Marietta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackie Cruz.

Jackie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I lived in Miami until about 1 year ago. While in Miami, I searched for someone to teach lifecasting and could only find classes outside the US. My husband’s job transferred him to Marietta and I did a local search to see if anyone did lifecasting in the area and found someone! Her name is Donna Forsyth of Souldance Lifecasting. She offered to teach me so I drove to Atlanta whenever she had a client to learn and help her. It was amazing how the timing worked out perfectly! I would go home and practice on my kids, friends and family. I took some more classes at The Engineer Guy, a special effects store in Atlanta and started really perfecting the skill. From my home studio, I started doing babies hands and feet, and groups of people as well. A turning point in my life was the day I got a phone call from Donna asking if I would be willing to do a memorial cast of someone that passed away. I never thought that I could do such a thing and thought that it would be too emotionally difficult, but I couldn’t say no. There are only two of us in the state of Georgia that do memorial casting and these families don’t have another option. When a family tells you that you have eased their loss it really is quite rewarding.

I don’t think I could ever turn anyone down that calls me for a memorial casting. I never expected to be where I am now doing what I do but I always wanted a career that was rewarding and something I was proud of when it’s my time to leave this earth.

Has it been a smooth road?
Lifecasting has been such a blessing, to be able to preserve my friend’s children’s memories, my own families and my client’s memories has been such a joy.

It has definitely been difficult in regards to memorial casting. I become attached to the families and their loved ones that have passed away. I think about them often and pray they are finding their path without their loved ones. It really makes you look at life differently and appreciate the small things.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Everlasting LifeCasts & Memorial Casting – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
My business is in Memory Preservation. I do life and memorial castings of people’s hands, feet, bellies, and faces. I love what I do because the memories I preserve will only be for that moment, they are forever changing. Your baby’s feet will only be small for so long. Your pregnant belly is only temporary, and will never get to embrace your deceased loved one’s hands again. But with my castings, these memories will forever be remembered. You will be able to see the little wrinkles in your baby’s toes when they are 10 years old. You will be able to feel how round your belly was when your baby has been born and you forget how big you were! Lastly you will be able to hold your loved one’s hand who passed away, or even kiss their face. It may never be the same with them gone but the memories will live on with Everlasting Lifecasts & Memorial Casting.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love all of the diversity in Marietta! I never thought moving to Georgia you would get to experience so many different cultures. I think this is so important when raising children. I have two boys and love that we get to live in such an amazing city. There are so many things for the kids to do and for us to do as a family. What more can you ask for?!!!

Contact Info:

• Website: EverlastingLifecasts.com
• Phone: 3058491664
• Email: everlastinglifecasts@gmail.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EverlastingLifecasts/
• Other: http://www.thepicta.com/user/everlastinglifecasts/4861131197

Image Credit:
www.FiveFourteenPhotography.com

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