Sue Montgomery has been a registered nurse and healthcare leader for over 33 years in roles from staff nurse to administrator in critical care, hospice, and the health insurance industry. She’s a certified hospice and palliative care nurse (CHPN) and was the primary caregiver for her mom for nearly a decade.
Sue has been heavily involved in healthcare technology for many years, and is the former senior content editor for a global digital health company—a role in which she collaborated with experts from around the world.
She’s also in the process of completing a masters degree in Digital Journalism and Design from the University of South Florida.
Here are a few words from Sue:
In addition to my nursing career, I’ve also been a small business owner since 2008 and now work from home. I’ve been a professional organizer, a certified health coach, a writer/editor and a communications consultant. I still provide writing/editing and communications consulting for clients, specializing in content marketing and digital marketing.
But what I’m most grateful for is that my husband and I were blessed to have my mom live with us for nearly a decade and I was able to take care of her through the end of her life.
I understand both the blessings and challenges of being a family caregiver. Accompanying Mom on her journey in her final years was my greatest privilege—and the primary thing I needed to do in this life.
Dad died fifteen years before Mom, after struggling with the debilitating effects of pulmonary fibrosis for a number of years. Mom was his primary caregiver, and though we lived 1100 miles apart during those years, I was blessed to be able to help intermittently and have many conversations about his wishes as he neared the end of his life.
I’m a Christian and count on God’s grace every minute.
I know that without His help none of my journey would’ve been possible. And honestly, I bathe everything I do in prayer.
So when I considered the types of resources I wanted to offer here, it became clear that they would need to include a foundation of faith.
That doesn’t mean you’ll get battered with the Bible. Rather, it means that I believe empowered living is only possible by leaning on Jesus.
I want our time together to be authentic, and to be able to share the things I’ve learned along the way to help you. If I tried to present my journey any differently, it just wouldn’t be the truth.
I recognize that such an approach might put some readers off. However, my intention isn’t to build walls of dogma or create faith-based exclusivity.
That wasn’t what Jesus did when he was here. Instead, he embraced everyone and made the most broken and shunned in society his leaders.
I lean on that truth every day, beyond grateful that his grace extends to my mistakes and brokenness as well.
All of that is to say that regardless of where you are when it comes to faith, I think you’ll find resources here that you can benefit from.
However, I have to admit that if you don’t yet know Jesus, I’m going to be praying that will change during our time together.
And if you do, that you’ll find yourself abiding ever more deeply in the One who loves you most.
Dave Montgomery is a genealogist, expert researcher and family historian who has been involved in genealogy research for over 25 years.
He is a graduate of St. Petersburg College, an associate addiction professional, and has been a health coach with Sue. He is currently completing a Certificate in Genealogical Studies-American Records through the National Institute for Genealogical Studies. So far, he has traced his own family tree through seven generations. He is a member of the National Genealogical Society and the Fairfield County Genealogy Society.
Here are a few words from Dave:
My passion for genealogy is fueled by both my love of history and my love for my family. I think it’s critical to capture the histories of our families in order to pass on that legacy for many generations to come.
I’ve discovered so many wonderful treasures as I’ve researched my own family history—and one that is most precious to me is sharing this journey with my own mother.
One of our research trips to her hometown in South Carolina will always be one of my favorite memories, and I regularly consult with her to both share and verify new information that I’ve discovered buried in the past generations of our family.
That’s why I offer resources here for those interested in both researching and documenting their own family histories.
An essential component of both graceful aging and peaceful dying, your memories and family treasures may be something that only you can pass on to future generations.
I’ll provide an array of tools informed by my personal and professional experience to aid you in your family history journey and the creation of a legacy to leave for your loved ones.
Like Sue, my Christian faith is the center of my life. I will similarly be creating faith-based tools as part of my offerings, and welcome individuals of all backgrounds to come to know Jesus better through the time spent here with us.