
January 27, 2025
ASHWAUBENON – A local family’s personal tragedy has led them to create a space for celebration, hope and healing for others – opening A Gathering for You recently.
The new celebration of life venue at 822 Cormier Road in Ashwaubenon, Melissa Maloney said, is the outgrowth of her and her husband, Greg’s, personal loss, including the passing of their beloved newborn, Sophia, in March 2023.
At that time, the family said it sought to find a place to celebrate and honor her short life but only found traditional funeral homes and generic event venues.
It was during this time that Maloney said they uncovered a gap in the Greater Green Bay area for a warm, welcoming venue that included most amenities on-site.
“Everything was just a blank slate, and it led me to want to make a change and do something different as an alternative to funeral homes or blank rooms,” she said. “We wanted a refreshing and uplifting alternative to the traditional funeral that very much focuses on the death of an individual and mourning in that moment.”
Maloney said she sought, instead, to create a destination for families who wanted to celebrate a full life of memories, accomplishments, hobbies and more.
A Gathering for You, which opened Dec. 16, 2024, she said, is that destination.
And other than arranging for food – which Maloney said customers can either bring or have catered – all other facets of the event are offered or managed on-site for the three- to four-hour rental time.
She said that includes choosing which music to play, what color lights to use, favorite candy to place on the Candy Kart, linens of choice and video to play on whatever cadence desired.
Maloney said she provides fresh-popped popcorn, a stocked candy cart and coffee with a variety of creamers.
“When you lose somebody, you will grieve that loss for the rest of your life,” she said. “I want these Celebrations of Life to be more uplifting and fun, and who doesn’t like candy, popcorn or coffee? That’s why I include them.”
And, after seeing far too many photos destroyed by traditional taped-on displays at funerals and wakes, Maloney said she leaned on her husband to custom create 8-foot-by-4-foot magnetic boards that can accommodate more than 300 photos without destroying them in the process.

“When we made picture boards for family funerals in the past, the tacks, pins and tape just ruined photos, and you can’t take them apart easily,” she said. “I thought, ‘There has to be something different.’”
Maloney said custom-created magnet boards for photo displays are also available.
“The magnetic boards make for easy setup, and they’re strategically placed above the coffee cart, food stations, sign-in station and ashes station for a natural, organic flow,” she said.
Maloney said customers simply bring photos, memorabilia, video and an urn with ashes, if desired.
All of that, she said, is complemented by furniture, plants and decorations to create a warm, inviting and cozy space.
Maloney said comfortable couches are complemented by ambient lighting, and the space features a host of tables and chairs – which taps into her personal passion for interior design.
In addition, she said the space features a Forever Tree, onto which she will add a wood burned, wooden leaf inscribed with a loved one’s name if desired.
Maloney said the tree will continue to collect leaves as time goes on, a visual representation of “everyone who has lived an awesome life.”
Maloney said the ashes station pays homage to the person being celebrated as well, featuring a well-lit place for an urn amid some white lights.
“It’s really pretty with the lights on it,” she said. “We want everything to be pretty, light and uplifting. The atmosphere is very homey, and people tell us it feels peaceful and comfortable.”
Though the walls are white, Maloney said that’s transformed as soon as she turns on the customer’s light color of choice – ricocheting in the room and adding a warm glow.
And while most venues require the use of a designated caterer, Maloney said she leaves that choice up to the family whether they make and bring in food or cater in food.
“If they want to do a potluck, do a potluck,” she said. “If mom loved tacos, bring tacos in and say goodbye. I believe a celebration should be about what someone loved. It should be all about what the family desires and what the person loved.”
The 4,000-square-foot space, Maloney said, can accommodate 185 people and the entire venue is handicapped-accessible, including the restrooms.
The rental fee, she said, is $850 for a three- to four-hour celebration.
“Anyone who has lost someone knows traditional funerals are very pricey,” she said. “I wanted to do something more cost-effective where most everything is included. I don’t want it to be a matter of ‘pay for this’ and ‘pay for that’ and the costs keep adding up.”
Maloney said her goal is to help families, many of whom she has met, who haven’t been able to host a funeral or celebration purely because of cost.
That, she said, doesn’t sit well with her.
“I feel like every life should be celebrated, even on a shoestring budget,” she said. “It shouldn’t be about the money. It should be about cherishing the life no matter how long or short it was… I simply want to celebrate life as you only get one mom, one dad… People aren’t replaceable.”
Everything is taken care of
Maloney said both she and Greg are on-site during events to manage the music and eulogy video, clear tables, empty garbage, maintain restrooms, etc., as well as to speak if their loved one’s speech is placed on the Forever Tree.
“The last thing you want to do when you’re celebrating your loved one is to work, so we’re there the entire time to assist,” Greg said.

Maloney said because the room is set up to encourage intimate conversations as well, she encourages the family not to stand in one spot as they might in a funeral home receiving line – it allows for more natural conversations.
“A celebration of life event should be more like a party and encourage mingling and looking at pictures at your own pace,” she said.
Off to a strong start
So far, Maloney said A Gathering for You has been extremely well-received by customers who rented the facility for celebration of life events.
“Everyone who talks to me says how this is a much-needed venue and loves the convenience,” she said.
Though the venue is new for Maloney, she said entrepreneurship is not, as she and Greg own another business together.
She said she recognizes that as with any new business, there is a learning curve, but she’s pleased with how the business is gaining attention and traction.
Word of mouth, being featured in the media and hosting a ribbon cutting/grand opening all have contributed to business awareness, Maloney said.
She said the grand opening also served as the celebration of life event for Sophia that they never had.
“We recognize that if not for our life experience with Sophia, we never would have dove into this venue or found a niche for this business,” Greg said. “We held that because it felt right.”
Maloney said she is happy to have the business where it is, in close proximity to Lambeau Field.
“We’re so close to Lambeau, in an area that’s nice and well-preserved, and that really appealed to us,” she said.
Maloney said the venue has a 25-stall parking lot and has permission to use the neighboring business’s 18-stall lot and space for around 50 cars to park along Fox Heights Lane.
The tone, she said, is set right away as guests are greeted by a custom, 7-foot-by-9-foot butterfly mural.
Inside, she said the butterfly theme continues with gold butterflies scattered throughout the building.
“I think butterflies represent a beautiful life and the glory of that person,” she said.
And while the space is perfect for celebrations of life, Maloney said A Gathering for You welcomes a variety of life’s celebrations – whether it’s wedding showers, baby showers, retirement parties, birthday parties, etc.
“We call them captured moments – getting married, having a baby, other milestones,” Greg said. “And people value those things in society, no doubt about it. It’s those captured moments that people will remember.”
Though it’s open for all kinds of celebrations, Maloney said she is driven by the calling to help others celebrate the lives of loved ones and process their emotions as well.
“One person who booked with us said, ‘I want to work with you because you understand grief,’” Maloney said. “When I say I am sorry about your loss, I mean it. I really sympathize in those moments. My hope and desire is to be able to give you and your loved ones a way to celebrate and make beautiful memories as you say goodbye one last time.”