Veronica Crawford

Veronica Crawford is a writer, animal welfare advocate, and author dedicated to helping others navigate loss with compassion, hope and understanding. Drawing on her extensive experience in the employment and homelessness sectors, Veronica has witnessed firsthand the profound impact grief can have on individuals, families, and communities. Her professional experience, combined with her own personal journey through loss, inspires her writing and her commitment to supporting others through life's most difficult seasons. In 2011, Veronica's brother, Carl, passed away following a car accident, forever changing the course of her life. In the years since, she has also mourned the loss of many cherished animal companions, including her beloved pet sheep Marlon, Bilbo Baggins and Womble, along with her adored dogs, Max, a 19-year-old Jack Russell, and Blaze, a 15-year-old Kelpie. Through these experiences, Veronica has come to understand that while grief never truly leaves us, healing is possible. She believes that sharing our stories can bring comfort, connection, and hope to others walking a similar path. Veronica is a contributing author to the bestselling 365 book series, including 365 Ways to Connect with Your Soul, 365 Moments of Grace, 365 Life Shifts, 365 Soulful Messages: The Right Guidance at the Right Time, Goodness Abounds, and Soul Biz. Her writing has also been published in The Pearson Education Comet Magazine, Brainwash Magazine, Wild Sister Magazine, and the Soul Speak blog. She is also a contributing author to On the Other Side of Grief, due to be released in August 2026. Today, Veronica continues to write from the heart, honouring the memory of those she has loved while creating a space where others feel seen, supported and less alone in their own grief journey.

Articles:

Memories and Messages. Merry Christmas from the Other Side

Christmas had always been a special time for me. The anticipation of Christmas day – decorating the tree and house, buying presents, beautiful food and spending time with family. But over time, Christmas has lost its sparkle. While I still appreciate the day with people I love – it no longer holds the same energy as years before. The excitement has been replaced more with a time for reflection and a longing for times gone by. Grief has woven her darkness through the tapestry of life with my brother Carl’s passing after a car accident, precious pets transitioning, and long-term […]

Carl’s Magpies-Messages from the Afterlife

Before losing my brother Carl after a car accident, I had always believed that when we died, that was it, the end of our journey. And in the early stages of grief, it was a dark time – to think that Carl was gone and I would never see him again. After Carl’s funeral, we were faced with the daunting task of collecting his belongings. Carl’s friends were amazing and provided support beyond what we could ever have expected. They brought their trucks and trailers and helped us pack everything he owned. Words can’t convey the surreal, gut-wrenching feeling of […]

Loving a New Pet after the Last Pet Has Died

Loving a Pet From as early on as I can remember, I have always connected with animals. My first pet was an orphaned lamb, Mary. I was obsessed with horses and fascinated with butterflies, frogs and caterpillars – any creatures that found their way into my world. Loving animals inevitably means at some point you have to say goodbye. Now, when I see people and the beautiful bond they have with their pets, my first thought is of the grief that lies ahead. The Healing Process Ever since my beautiful dogs Max and Blaze passed on, I have not been […]

Letter to a Dear Pet: One Year After Her Death

Letter to a Dear Pet Dear Blaze, my spirited and loyal friend. It has been twelve months since you transitioned. Just twelve months, yet it feels like a lifetime ago. Your empty bed still sits on the floor, the coat you would wear when you went for a walk to keep you warm in the cooler months is still draped over the chair. Your medication is still in the kitchen drawer. I am still not ready to put away your belongings; I would have to fully accept you aren’t coming back. Your life before coming to live with us was […]

Dear Max: Last Words to a Special Dog

Dear Max – AKA squishy, macchiato, mackie, snowy, little man, maximus and monkey. I miss you so much. So much that it hurts to think about it. I haven’t fully processed losing you. The best I can do is grieve in small moments and then I shut my mind down to cope. You were my world for nineteen years. Your nose smudges (and Blaze’s) are still on the back glass door and windows, the two favourite spots where you kept a close eye on the world outside. My timber furniture still has chew marks in it as a reminder of […]

Finding Peace After the Loss of a Brother

A Brother’s Sudden Death As I walk into the beach hut, all is quiet. Still. Everything, as Carl left it. His table with a view of the ocean he loved so much. On it, an ash tray and tobacco. Carl’s beloved magpie statue, a symbol of his passion for the Collingwood Football Club. All around me, Carl’s belongings. The last time Carl closed the door, he did so with the belief he would return. He didn’t. “A luminous light remains where a beautiful soul has passed,” wrote Antoine Bovena. On March 22, 2011, my brother Carl passed over after a […]