On several occasions in the almost eleven years since my daughter Jeannine’s death, I have attended calling hours for several friends whose loved ones have died. If the deceased is not a child, I will sometimes get comments like, “I know it is not the same (death of a child), but I feel so horrible (about my loss).”…
On February 9th of this year, an era of sorts ended for me. One of my favorite undergraduate professors at Utica College and one of my favorite people, Thom Brown, died at the age of 65. Thom first came to Utica College in 1975, fresh out of graduate school. I was a sophomore psychology major at Utica College…
Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember; music has always helped me navigate major transitions in my life. After the death of my daughter Jeannine in 2003 due to cancer, music helped me put words to her illness and the aftermath of her death. Later in my grief journey, music assisted me…
I have always been uncomfortable in cemeteries ever since I can remember. My discomfort surrounding cemetery visits magnified one hundred fold after my daughter Jeannine’s death in March of 2003. Watching my daughter’s coffin being lowered into the ground during her gravesite service was symbolic of the end of her…
Anger is a very important component in the grieving process. Expressing anger is a vital part of the healing we need. I do not ever want to discourage anger or its expression in any way. but there needs to be at least a word said about not letting the anger dominate us until the grieving is diverted or placed on hold…
A Cold Case State of Mind On most Fridays from 5:00pm to 11:00PM, I am parked on the couch or in my bedroom, watching the “Cold Case” marathon on the ION channel. This seven-year television series revolved around a dedicated and passionate group of detectives who came together as a team to solve open murder cases…
March 1,2013 will mark the 10th angelversary of my 18-year-old daughter Jeannine’s death. At times, I wonder how I made it ten minutes, much less ten years. During my early grief, I never thought I would experience joy again, nor did I ever believe that my life would have meaning again, without my daughter’s physical…
Since my daughter Jeannine’s death at the age of 18 in March of 2003, I have undergone a radical spiritual transformation. I have learned to embrace all that is part of the universe, to help me gain a different perspective on Jeannine’s entry into eternal life. In the process I have learned that my relationship…
Our son, Keith, has died. I am unprepared. A part of me has died too. Why would a young man who had “everything going for him” take his life by suicide? I can’t understand it? Why as his Mother didn’t I know his pain? Why didn’t anyone see the signs that he was depressed? What is this silent killer called suicide?…
If you are a human service professional, it is inevitable that at some point a problem that clients will report is unresolved grief issues. The death of their child may likely be an issue one or more of your clients may face. Working with a parent who is facing a child’s death can present unique challenges for a…