Cara’s Story: How it Started and Where it’s Going
The Story that Led Me to Shalva
From an early point in my career, I’ve always been drawn to roles that center on service and helping others navigate life’s challenges. This passion initially led me to the Peace Corps, where I worked in youth development, and continued throughout my roles in community-building and event management for nonprofits and global organizations. But everything changed in 2020 when I was laid off due to COVID-19. As I navigated the job market, a friend recommended I explore an open position at Sinai Memorial Chapel, a role that I had never considered: Advance Planning Funeral Counselor.
At Sinai, I was introduced to an industry that was unfamiliar but immediately impactful. For the past four years, I have helped individuals and families prepare for end-of-life decisions, making sure that their wishes are carried out and their loved ones are spared from emotional and financial burdens. Over time, I noticed that nearly every family I worked with had the same concerns: they wanted to make things easier for their children, yet after completing their plans, the question always remained, "What now?"
This consistent gap sparked the idea for Shalva. While helping my own parents transition from a paper-based system—a binder in their safe in New Jersey—to a more accessible digital format, I realized this issue wasn’t unique to my clients; it was widespread. As an adult child living far from my parents, I understood firsthand the need for a secure, organized, and digital way to store and share these important documents. The idea for Shalva was born from both my personal experience and the countless conversations I’ve had with clients and friends, all looking for an easier way to prepare for the inevitable.
Looking ahead, my vision for Shalva is to become the trusted partner for families as they navigate the complexities of end-of-life planning. My goal is to work closely with individuals to transition all the essential aspects of their lives—financial, legal, personal—into a streamlined, accessible digital system. I’m focused on ensuring that when the time comes, loved ones are not overwhelmed by the logistics but instead have a clear roadmap, allowing them to focus on what truly matters. Shalva aims to revolutionize how families approach this stage of life, providing peace of mind and security, knowing that everything is organized, up-to-date, and ready to be passed on smoothly to those who will manage it after they're gone.
