“I Wish We Had This for My Dad”: Why Suzan Chose Remento Over Traditional Memory Books Like Storyworth®

Sometimes you don’t realize what you’ve lost until it’s gone. Not just the person, but their voice, their laugh, and the stories they used to tell without even thinking. When Suzan’s father passed at 97, she didn’t just lose him, she lost the stories he used to tell. She became determined the same wouldn’t happen with her 95 year old mother.

When Family Stories Disappear Without Warning

If you’ve ever thought about recording your family’s stories, you probably assumed there would be time. More dinners. More holidays. More chances to ask the questions that matter.

Until there isn’t.

That’s exactly what happened to Suzan. After losing her father, Murray, at 97, she realized something heartbreaking. His stories were gone with him.

She had tried to preserve them while he was still alive. She gave him a Storyworth® book, hoping he would write them down.

But her dad was never a writer.

“But dad was never a writer. So he didn’t write a single story. Not one.”

The book stayed blank. And the stories that once filled dinner conversations and long, humorous toasts simply disappeared with him.

Why Memory Books for Parents Often Go Unfinished, and What Happens Next

Suzan couldn’t stop thinking about the moments she would never get back. She had assumed writing would be the way to preserve her father’s stories. Instead, it became the barrier.

“When he passed, I realized that all those stories he used to tell at dinner… were just gone.”

That realization became urgent when she looked at her mother.

“Then it hit me. My mom is 95. She has eight great-grandchildren now… Will they ever really know who she was?”

This is where many families find themselves. They want to preserve these memories, but they are not sure how to do it in a way that actually works.

A memory book for parents sounds meaningful. But in practice, it often raises real questions:

• Will they actually do it?
• Will it feel like a chore?
• Will it capture who they really are?

For Suzan, the answer had to be simple. It had to feel natural. And most importantly, it had to work for someone who did not want to write.

A Simpler Way to Record Family Stories (Without Writing)

The turning point came unexpectedly.

“Then I saw Remento on Shark Tank. It was perfect. Instead of writing, she just talks.”

Instead of asking her 95-year-old mother to sit down and write, Remento offered something completely different. It felt natural. Something she could actually say yes to.

“Every week she gets a question. She taps a link. She tells her story. That's it.”

There are no blank pages. No pressure to write. No expectation to create a perfect life story. Just a simple rhythm of sharing memories, one story at a time.

This simplicity is what makes Remento a powerful alternative to traditional memory books like Storyworth, especially for families who want to preserve memories without turning it into a task.

Remento Tip: Make Storytelling Effortless

If writing feels like a barrier, shift the focus to conversation instead. The easier it is to share a story, the more likely it is to be told, and remembered.

If you’re curious check how Remento works for yourself

How Remento Turns Conversations Into a Life Story Book

What happened next surprised her most.

“Remento turns her recordings into perfectly written pages in a beautiful keepsake book.”

With Remento’s Speech-to-Story™ technology, her mother’s spoken memories were carefully transformed into beautifully written narratives, shaping what she said into something her whole family could read and revisit.

Each story became part of a thoughtfully designed life story book. But what made it truly special wasn’t just what was written on the page.

It was hearing her. Scanning the QR codes on each chapter to listen to her mom’s recordings.

Because the most meaningful part of a memory is not just the words. It is the voice. The pauses. The way someone tells it.

“I did not expect to get as emotional as I did scanning that first QR code.”

That was the moment it clicked.

This was not just about documenting memories. It was about preserving presence. Something her family could return to, again and again.

Remento Tip: Preserve the Voice, Not Just the Words

A written story is meaningful. But hearing and seeing someone tell it brings it to life in a way words alone never can.

See how Melissa preserved her mother’s voice forever with Remento

Creating a Memory Book for Parents That Connects Generations

What started as a way to preserve one person’s story quickly became something much bigger.

“And we sent copies of her book to her grandchildren all over the country.”

It became something that connected the entire family.

“Now her great-grandchildren scan her book and great-grandma tells them a bedtime story."

This is when a family story book becomes more than a keepsake. It becomes a way for future generations to hear, see, and connect with someone they may not otherwise have the chance to truly know.

Remento Tip: Share Stories Across Generations

Distribute copies of your life story book to family members. The more people who can access it, the more powerful its impact becomes.

See how McKayla’s grandparent’s stories became weekly traditions at their household.

Remento vs Storyworth: The Difference That Matters

The blank book Suzan’s father left behind reflects a challenge many families face.

Traditional platforms like Storyworth rely on writing (or precise dictation). And for many families, that’s where the process stops.

Remento takes a different approach by removing that barrier entirely. 

Instead of asking someone to write their life story, it invites them to simply tell stories, conversationally, like they would on a phone call or around the dinner table.

With Remento:

• Stories are recorded in video or audio
• No apps, logins, or technical skills are required
• Guided prompts make it easy to start
• Spoken memories are turned into written stories
• Each chapter includes a QR code so you can hear the voice behind it

Families can also add photos from anywhere, layering memories with images that make each story feel more complete.

Over time, it becomes more than a book. It becomes a living archive of a life.

Check out why people choose Remento over Storyworth

How to Record Your Parents’ Stories Before It’s Too Late

When Suzan says, “I only wish we had this for my dad,” it’s not just regret. It’s a reminder of how quickly the chance to capture these stories can slip away.

This story begins with loss. But it doesn’t end there. It becomes a choice. To listen more closely. To ask the questions now. To preserve what matters while you still can.

Remento is not just about looking back. It is about making sure the people you love can still be heard, long into the future.

And sometimes, it starts with something as simple as one question a week.

See how Jeffrey Unlocked Decades of Family Stories Through Photo Prompts

Start Preserving Your Family’s Stories Today with Remento

If you’ve been thinking about recording your family’s stories, now is the time to start.

Remento makes it simple for anyone to record their memories on video or audio without any apps, logins, or technical skills. Each response is transformed into a beautifully written story and compiled into a keepsake book filled with QR codes so you can hear and see your loved one’s voice for years to come. 

Start recording today at https://www.remento.co/

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