Artistry by Heather Courson formerly: Spataro

Empathy, compassion and understanding runs deep

"In all my years I have never experienced a family member coming in to do makeup on their deceased loved one. All services done to prepare the body are in-house and most family members don’t want to be a part of something so emotionally traumatizing and taxing. I was greatly impressed by Heather’s professionalism. She came equipped with a fully stocked kit appropriate for the task and her work was impeccably done with great detail and love. I was deeply moved by the care she and her assistant took to prepare Sharon’s aesthetics for viewing. I know that her mother would have been so very proud of her and the end result. I’m confident that the same care, professionalism and compassion would be applied to anyone she was asked to service and have no problem recommending her to the public."

- Sytesma Funeral Homes and Cremation

I KNEW THE MOMENT THAT MY MOTHER HAD BEEN GIVEN HER PANCREATIC DIAGNOSIS IN JULY 2019, THAT IS WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SHE WOULD PASS ON. I ALSO KNEW THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY I COULD ALLOW ANYONE ELSE DO HER MAKEUP AND PREPARE HER FOR HER FINAL VIEWING EXCEPT ME.

IF YOU HAVE READ MY BIO, MY MOTHER WAS MY FIRST GREAT TEACHER OF MAKEUP ARTISTRY! BEING AN ARTIST HERSELF FOR MANY YEARS, SHE (AND I) BOTH HAVE WORKED WITH THE DECEASED MULTIPLE TIMES FOR FAMILY AND LOVED ONES OF FRIENDS. I KNEW WHAT TO EXPECT, WHICH PRODUCTS AND TOOLS TO USE AND HOW TO APPLY THE MAKEUP PROPERLY.

SHE AND I SPENT AN UNFORGETTABLE AFTERNOON IN JANUARY 2020 PLAYING WITH MAKEUP AND CLOTHES, MAKING DECISIONS AND PRACTICING TECHNIQUES AND TAKING PHOTOS. EVEN THOUGH WE KNEW THE HEART-WRENCHING, UNDERLYING REASON FOR OUR FINAL MOTHER/DAUGHTER DAY OF GLAM, IT IS A BEAUTIFUL, POSITIVE MEMORY WHICH WILL STAY WITH ME FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

NOT ALL ARE GIFTED WITH THESE KINDS OF PRECIOUS LAST MOMENTS WITH THEIR LOVED ONES. THIS MAKES ME SO VERY SAD. THOUGH I AM NOT ABLE TO GIVE THE GIFT OF TIME, I WISH TO GIVE THE GIFT OF POSITIVE MEMORIES FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. THE VIEWING/FUNERAL IS THE LAST TIME THEY WILL LAY EYES UPON THEIR LOVED ONE. SO JUST AS I DID WITH MY MOTHER, I WILL ENSURE THAT THE FINAL IMAGE OF YOUR LOVED ONE WILL BE BEAUTIFUL AND POSITIVE RATHER THAN SAD AND SHOCKING. I WANT TO OFFER MY EXPERTISE, MY DEEP COMPASSION AND UNDERSTANDING TO YOU DURING SUCH A DIFFICULT TIME IN HOPES OF QUELLING YOUR WORRY AND HOPEFULLY LESSENING YOUR PAIN.

MY MOTHER KNEW THAT MY DEEP COMPASSION FOR OTHERS WOULD EVENTUALLY LEAD ME TO WORKING WITH THE DECEASED. SHE ENCOURAGED ME TO ADD IT TO MY SERVICES AND GRANTED ME PERMISSION TO TAKE BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS OF HER SO I MAY BE ABLE TO PRIVATELY SHOW THEM TO PROSPECTIVE CLIENTS. SHE SUGGESTED I ADD THIS SERVICE AND NOTE TO MY SITE ONCE I WAS READY.

I AM DEEPLY HUMBLED.

“You don’t know my daughter but let me tell you, she is amazing…inside and out. I realize many will say I’m partial but it’s the God’s honest truth. Her talents, besides makeup artistry, are beyond comprehension and her depth of love and compassion for people runs very deep in her soul. If you are reading this, I have left this world but I have given her permission to utilize images of my body to show you her talents in this category of makeup. Though this time for me is brutally hard and accepting my mortality is excruciating, I’m truly blessed to have her be the one to walk this path with me and eventually prepare the body which once carried her. I want anyone out there who is journeying towards their own personal transition or who has lost a loved one and want to honor them by having them look their absolute best for their final send-off, please know my daughter will care for you like family. I am so very proud of the woman she has become and wholeheartedly endorse her loving heart and phenomenal abilities.”-January 2020.

- Sharon V. Spataro (Sept 1956 - Feb 2020