A few years ago, a pair of domestic geese named Blossom and Bud made their home at Riverside Cemetery in Marshalltown, Iowa.
The two were inseparable, bringing unexpected joy and comfort to visitors who came to mourn their own loved ones.
But last August, heartbreak struck. Bud passed away — and just like that, Blossom lost her lifelong companion.
Without Bud by her side, Blossom wandered the cemetery grounds alone.
Staff members tried their best to keep her spirits up with extra attention and her favorite treats, but the void left by Bud was impossible to miss.
As spring approached — a time when geese instinctively seek out mates to raise young — Blossom’s loneliness deepened. Her search for Bud grew more desperate.
Staff often saw her staring at reflections in windows and tombstones, seemingly hoping to catch a glimpse of her lost love.
“She’s never been without a partner during the spring,” said Dorie Tammen, general manager of Riverside Cemetery. “It’s clear she’s lonely. She just wants companionship again.”
So, the cemetery decided to help. Tammen posted a heartfelt “personal ad” for Blossom, hoping to find a new companion for their grieving goose.
Not long after, a local family reached out. They had a goose named Frankie — also recently widowed — who needed a friend just as much as Blossom did.
Their timing couldn’t have been more poetic. Blossom and Frankie were introduced on Valentine’s Day.
Update 2/16/2023: And just as Tammen had hoped, the two hit it off.
“They seem very comfortable together,” she said. “It’s beautiful to see. They’re both getting a second chance at love.”
Now Blossom and Frankie roam the cemetery side by side, offering visitors not just comfort, but a quiet reminder: even after loss, new beginnings are possible.
