This story was submitted as a nomination to the Reader's Digest "Top 10 Nicest Places in America" contest: a crowd-sourced effort to uncover corners of the country where people are still kind and respectful in an era of cultural and political divides. If you know of a community, business, or nonprofit where kindness prevails, then be sure to submit a testimony or anecdote here before the June 5th deadline. (WS will be one of the judges!)

A story of compassion from Clinton, Iowa

I recently experienced the most amazing act of kindness by someone who was shown the same act of kindness.

I lost my husband almost three years ago. I laid him to rest the day before our 30th wedding anniversary. We had no insurance, so putting together a funeral was a challenge and I had not been able to place a headstone on his grave.

Then just a few days ago, a headstone was placed on his grave by some neighbors, one of whom was Trinda Colschen.

Trinda's daughter and boyfriend were buried next to my husband after they passed away in a tragic motorcycle accident. The community came together and paid for their funerals and headstones. Aware that I had been unable to do so for a member of my own family, Trinda and a group of others decided to perform the same act of kindness to others.

This gift means the world to my family. I feel as though he can finally rest in peace.

Reprinted with permission from Reader's Digest and submitted by Laura Feller. To learn more about WS's part in searching for the Top 10 Nicest Places, click here.

Pass On The Positivity To Your Friends And Share The Sweet Story To Social Media – Photo by Laura Feller