About Us

Catherine Szabad founded Hearts in Bloom Buffalo out of compassion for those who have lost their life partner.

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Our Mission

Hearts in Bloom works to honor and support widows and widowers who have lost their life partners and are so often left to grieve in silence. It’s an act of compassion, a quiet recognition, and a reminder that their loss still matters. Our hope is that through Hearts in Bloom, we can remind them that they’re seen, that they’re remembered, and that they’re not alone. Coming Soon: “A Mother’s Love,” a day to honor a mother who has  lost a child. Watch love grow!

A woman with brown curly hair sitting at a kitchen counter with a floral arrangement in a white vase, kitchen cabinets, pendant lights, and a range hood in the background.
A couple sitting on a beach with ocean waves in the background.

My Story

I know how deep, life-altering loss feels.

Everyone knows what loss feels like and some losses are tougher than others.  For me, it was the loss of my son. I miss him and the thought of all the things he missed out on is very difficult. At times, I have the feeling of being left out when others talk about what their sons are doing, but I also know that was not the plan for my family.  

After losing my child, I experienced a silence I never expected—the world didn’t seem to notice that everything had changed. That grief made me very aware of how isolating loss can be, especially when there’s little space for others to recognize it. Over time, my pain helped me recognize others who walk a similar path, particularly widows and widowers. They too are asked to continue on while carrying the weight of a shattered world. Hearts in Bloom became my way of reaching out.

People ask me why I do this. I answer that it’s really a kind thing to do—but quietly, I know I’m really doing it for my son and to help those who have a sense of loss and missing someone they loved dearly.

Today, I live in Wheatfield with my husband David and our “diva” English Bulldog, Georgia.

Press and Appearances

Woman in pink jacket holding a bouquet of flowers being filmed by a cameraman in black jacket inside a decorated room with pink and heart-shaped balloons.