Hammer Hollow Tammy II Wright, lovingly called “Tammy” for short, age 15 years, 9 months, and 19 days, of Raritan Township, NJ, died peacefully on Saturday, October 17, 2020 at home, in the arms of those who loved her most, and with her loving sisters, Nalani and Serene by her side.

Born in Kingwood Township, NJ, December 29, 2004, Tammy was the only puppy in her litter with a little white patch just below her neck. She wore that mark proudly, and promptly trotted over to her future Dad on his first visit to see her and her siblings, and with that white patch standing out, the two instantly knew that they would be a family. There was no, “lets look at the others” or “going home to think about it”; Tammy II had found her Dad and her Dad had found his little girl.

Growing up with beagles and coonhounds, D.J. Wright has always been surrounded by dogs. “Hammer Hollow”, the family’s kennel name, has long been respected and known as a place where any dog would be happy. As a child, D.J. had a Black & Tan coonhound named Tammy, who was a vital part of his childhood and early growing years. She was kind and gentle, sweet and loving, truly man’s best friend. Never able to be replaced, D.J. was struck immediately as this little chunky brown Labrador retriever made her way towards him, and knew right away he wanted to honor the original Tammy by giving this new puppy who stole his heart the name Tammy II.

The ‘new’ Tammy was a puppy that naturally made people stop what they were doing to say hello to her. One did not have to be a dog person to love Tammy; her aura and loving energy simply drew people in. She loved to be outdoors, meeting new friends, eating and drinking everything in sight, running, and doing all the things dogs do to remind their human counterparts of what truly matters in life.

Tammy, however, was also very different from the beginning. She had an innate ability to help those who were troubled or suffering from sadness. With her Dad being a funeral director, Tammy was exposed to many difficult situations during her formative years, all of which she handled with grace and dignity and again, teaching her human friends how to handle and move forward on life’s path in a positive way.

It was only natural then for her to be a part of a dream D.J. had for many years, which was to bring a pet service program to his funeral ministry. Upon purchasing his own firm in January of 2015, Tammy was instantly the vital link in D.J.’s plan of providing unparalleled service to all peoples.

Happily greeting everyone at the front door, Tammy would sit with each family during arrangements and walked with them as they faced their new reality. She was never pushy and knew when to be there and when to give space. It was truly a sight to behold, as no words do justice to her character.

As one of the first funeral home support dogs in the State of New Jersey, Tammy ensured that all who came through the doors of Wright & Ford had the opportunity to express their grief in a constructive, healing way. She took away the pain of all those she met, and in doing so, transformed sadness into moments of unburdened joy, loss into gratitude and hope.

To illustrate her unique sense of love, Tammy somehow knew whenever a child or infant was in the care of Wright & Ford. She would immediately run to the area where the new angel was, and sit by the door until they were moved to one of the chapels where she would then sit vigil by them. She could not be coaxed to go out to use the bathroom or even eat. She just wanted to stay by them as if she were standing in for the little one’s parents. Simply put, her motherly instinct and genuine love knew no bounds.

Her legacy will live on through her Wright & Ford family, through the countless others who have seen what a loving dog can provide, and colleagues who have brought a support dog program to their own funeral homes.

In the novel “The Little Prince”, Antoine St. Exupery writes, “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” Tammy lived her life by that creed, doing all she did with love. To honor her, is to live each day with a bit more love in our words and in our actions.

Thank you Tammy, for showing us all what true, unconditional love is. 

Surviving are her loving sisters who will continue her legacy of selfless service at the funeral home, and who also will miss ‘crazy time’ and getting her famous ‘side-eye’ when she had enough, Nalani and Serene; her Wright & Ford Life Celebration Care Team Family, all of whom she loved dearly; the countless families that she was so honored to care for throughout the years, especially the children and infants that she guarded with her life; her many dog and other animal friends; and of course the numerous human family and friends made as she traveled her path of life.

Tammy will lie in repose in her home where she spent many happy days with her Dad and her extended family serving all peoples, the Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ 08822, on Saturday, October 24, 2020 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. All are welcomed to come and share the love that Tammy gave so freely to anyone she met. Dogs are encouraged to bring their owners as long as the appropriate party stays on a leash.

Life celebration services will follow at 3:30 p.m., again to which all are welcome.

Following the service, Tammy will be buried at sunset on the funeral home grounds where her presence of hope and light will forever be enshrined.

If you are unable to attend the services but wish to be a part of them via a zoom meeting, please click HERE to send an email requesting access. Additionally, if you can not attend and wish to have anything shared on your behalf during the service of the ways Tammy touched your heart, please send them to careteam@wrightfamily.com.

Kindly note that masks and social distancing are required at all funeral related events. 

Please visit Tammy’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of her life.

Memorial contributions in Tammy’s honor may be made to the ‘Hammer Hollow Tammy II Wright Scholarship Fund’ through the donation program ‘In Memory Of’. This scholarship will be awarded to a deserving high school senior intent on studying social work or psychology with the goal of becoming a licensed therapist or a desire to work in an adjacent field of helping others through difficult circumstances. Please click HERE to be taken to her personal and secure donation page. For those who wish to mail a contribution, please do so by making a check payable to ‘In Memory Of’, noting ‘Tammy’ in the memo, and mailing to: In Memory Of, P.O. Box 5472, Charlottesville, VA 22905.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”