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Robi On The Road: Volunteers Give Funeral Flowers Second Life

BEVERLY (CBS) – Ever wonder what happens to flowers after a funeral or a wake?

A funeral would mark the end of their journey for most flowers. But one volunteer organization with a green thumb has other plans.

Related: More "Robi On The Road"

The Power of Flowers Project out of Beverly wants those flowers to be enjoyed again - by the living.

Power of Flowers
WBZ-TV's David Robichaud stops to smell to roses. (WBZ-TV)

The charity's motto is "Rescue, recycle, renew."

Volunteers take the floral bouquets from funerals, wakes, weddings and other events and repurpose them into beautiful new arrangements.

Then they bring them to nursing homes so elderly residents can enjoy them.

Joyce Bellefeuille, the founder of the group, says families of the deceased are grateful they have an opportunity to do something positive with the flowers that have been left over from an event like that.

Power Of Flowers
A nursing home resident receives a flower creation. (WBZ-TV)

One resident of a Tewksbury nursing home told WBZ-TV she's happy those flowers don't end up in the trash.

"I hate the idea of the dumpster. Things have to keep living," Phyllis Boumel said.

Susanne Dunsford, a Power of Flowers Project volunteer, said her role with the group is a rewarding one.

"This is so great to be able to take something that would go into the trash and turn it into something beautiful that brings people joy," said Dunsford.

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