I had the honor of being interviewed by our local newspaper for a special section devoted to the tenth anniversary of the September 11,2001 terrorist attacks.  Eight victims had ties to my community. The surviving family members of three of these families shared their journeys for this article. I was interviewed as a “grief expert,” whose name was provided to the newspaper by Utica College. I am employed there as an adjunct professor and have taught several courses including, Death, Dying and Bereavement.  The interview was brief, but went well.  I stated that communities have learned to mobilize around tragedy […]

From my own experience with losing my beloved, I have found it helpful for me to maintain a continuing bond and relationship with him. While our relationship is different than it was when he was here on Earth, I still have a strong connection with him in my heart and through the memories I carry of him and of us. For me, love is stronger than death. Love lasts beyond death. While I still have that bond with Greg, I am not the type of person that often finds myself receiving signs from him. I do not believe that our […]

Last week I gave a talk at a local church about spiritual women helping each other.  The talk came from my own experience of losing four family members in 2007.  My handout showed the “bones” of my talk and helped audience members to follow along.  What were the points of my talk? Spiritual women offer comfort.  When I was lost in the darkness of grief my sister-in-law kept saying, “You will get through this.”  I appreciated her reassurance.  Other friends said they were praying for me.  Three small words, “I’m so sorry,” comforted me as well.  Spiritual women stay in […]