Our Story
Our story starts with a purple folder.
In 2008, my mother was battling lung cancer and facing the realization that she might not survive her illness. She told my siblings and me that there was a purple folder containing her final wishes. None of us asked to see it. We never talked about its contents because we trusted it would be there when we needed it.
When my mother passed away, our grief was profound. To honor her, we knew her service should be exactly as she had wanted. Unfortunately, the purple folder was never found. Without it, my family was left with questions and disagreements over what her wishes might have been. The situation caused a rift between us that lingered far too long.
Within a year of her passing, my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Again, we were caught off-guard and left scrambling. Six months after his diagnosis, I learned that my uncle had Alzheimer's as well. A recent widower with no children, he needed my help.
My Mother, Dodie Hutchinson
I flew from my home to his Florida residence many times to ensure he received proper medical care and housing. Managing his finances was a time-consuming, stressful ordeal because his paperwork was in disarray. He had written a will and done some estate planning, yet it became clear to me that preparation without organization is still a problem.
“There has to be a better way.”
Since then, I have heard from many people with their own purple folder stories. Those experiences became the foundation of Purple Folder Press and a library of planning tools built for real life.
For individuals ready to get their own affairs in order, there is a streamlined solo planner. For couples who want to document their lives and wishes together, there is a comprehensive joint portfolio. And for those navigating end-of-life planning, or supporting someone who is, The Goodbye Guide offers a compassionate, practical path through one of life’s most important conversations.
Whatever your situation, there is a place to start. Because preparation is not a single document. It is a system. And a completed one is truly a gift for yourself and for the people you love.
Warmly,
Susan Loumagne
About the Author
Susan Loumagne has spent a lifetime thinking about preparation. It started with her father, who instilled in the family a deep belief in being prepared for whatever life brings. That foundation shaped the way Susan has always worked: asking how systems could be built better, how processes could be streamlined, and how people could be set up to succeed before a crisis demanded it of them.
That instinct led to a career as a Fortune 500 executive coach and management consultant, where she developed internal frameworks for managing company knowledge and worked with individuals and organizations on performance at every level. She carried that same thinking into her entrepreneurial life, building multiple businesses before channeling everything into her most personal mission: helping families get organized for the moments that matter most.
What began as 55+ Essential Services evolved into Purple Folder Press, a life continuity systems brand Susan describes as a Documentation Operating System for People. Her work spans estate organization, end-of-life planning, emergency preparedness, digital asset management, and legacy documentation, reaching individuals, families, and institutional partners including HR departments, financial advisors, estate attorneys, funeral homes, and senior living communities.
Her growing library reflects the full range of life’s planning needs. And when a cultural moment presented itself, she proved she could have a little fun too. The Life of a Showgirl, her coloring book created in the spirit of the Taylor Swift era, caught the wave and found its audience.
Susan is based in Pennsylvania and believes that a well-organized life is one of the most generous gifts you can give the people you love.