Open to Hope Articles
Do you want to read stories of others who have been where you are? Are you looking for bereavement help, and advice? Look no further. We offer over 3,000 articles written by our Open to Hope authors.
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Supporting Bereaved Families: Kathleen and Kristina Fucci
October 13, 2016
Kathleen Fucci is the mother of Kristina Fucci whose birth mother died of cancer. Marrying into a family with three children, and dealing with the death of their mother, Kathleen saw the need for Christ-centered resources and founded Kathleen Fucci Ministries. Kristina is the Director of Marketing. Kathleen is the author of the award-winning picture book Emily Lost Someone She Loved. http://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/opentohope.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/06102420/Kathleen-Fucci_-MP3-for-Audio-Podcasting.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Episode 86: Spouse Loss with Dawn Jiosi, Sara and Caryl Fried Feldmann
October 9, 2016
On this show Dr. Gloria Horsley and Dr. Heidi Horsley interviewed Dawn Jiosi, creator of the New Dawn that was inspired by the shattering life events of her husband’s death eight years ago. Our second guests were Caryl Fried Feldmann and her daughter Sara Feldmann Sheehan, Executive Producer of Mortal, a film inspired by the death of Caryl’s husband and Sara’s father Skip. A clip is shown of New Dawn, and the film Mortal.
Episode 85: Transforming Grief After The Death of A Mother and Daughter with Lo Anne Mayer
October 2, 2016
On this show Dr. Gloria Horsley and Dr. Heidi Horsley interviewed Lo Anne Mayer on the death of her mother and how she found comfort and understanding by conversing with her mother through meditation and writing. After the tragic suicide of her daughter, Cyndi, Lo Anne again found comfort in writing as a conduit between herself, her mother, and her deceased daughter. She is the author of Celestial Conversations and teaches her simple and effective method to the bereaved.
From Motherless to ‘Motherfull’
September 25, 2016
Knowing our role or function among our friends and family isn’t something we intentionally think about; it’s just natural. Knowing our role at work is necessary and obvious. I didn’t realize every character (aka: people around me) in my story (aka: life) had been playing a role in my life for years. Not just Mom, Dad, Grandma, or best friend. But more in-depth: protector, caretaker, wisdom giver, encourager, the glue, or comedian. I knew before I lost my mom that I was Cathy’s daughter. Everyone loved my mom; therefore, they loved me too, because I was her daughter. (I truly […]
Songwriting as Healing Art
September 10, 2016
I kissed your head Told you I loved you, ’cause I wanted You to know just how much that you impacted My life, so much more than I could ask for This is not good-bye, and yes, I will cry but that’s ’cause I miss your face This is not good-bye, I know I’ll see you on the other side some day This is not good-bye I held your hand We praised and we prayed with all we had With every second and every minute you breathed You are a fighter to me I dedicate this song to you The […]
After Father’s Death, Daughter Recalls His Deep Devotion
July 9, 2016
My father was an activist who devoted his life to one principle: that God is love. He once told me that he was a Christian because he was born in a Christian household in a Christian culture and it might have been otherwise if he’d been born in, say, the Middle East. His belief in the power of love was so all inclusive that when I, in 1971, revealed I was a lesbian, he never said one negative word to me. It was only after his death that I saw his writing, in which he struggled with whether he had […]
A Young Father’s Murder
June 17, 2016
I met Randall when he was just six years old, the youngest of three siblings, one brother Mickey, and older sister Nancy, who was to become a lifelong friend. But at thirteen, we rarely thought of the future. It was fun to go to her house. Since I was an only child, I thought her little brothers were funny and cute. But time moved incredibly fast, and the little kid Randall grew up, married, and was now a young father himself. Nancy and I also had established homes of our own, and we remained close friends. As I reflect back […]
Father’s Day After Your Father Has Died
June 11, 2016
It’s Father’s Day, and for more than 100 million Americans whose fathers have died, it will be a day of missing Dad. What can these fatherless Americans do to make the holiday meaningful? For my book, FatherLoss, I interviewed several hundred people about the death of their dads. And some were actually a little relieved on Father’s Day after their dad had died. This was especially true if they had a troubled relationship with their dad. After he died, they didn’t have to come up with a gift for him, or send him a card – or apologize for not […]
Episode 77: Proactive Grieving
June 3, 2016
On this show Dr. Gloria Horsley and Alan Petersen, Executive Director of The Compassionate Friends, interview Megan Carmody, bereaved sibling of Kelly and Gwen Oliver, bereaved daughter of Marlene, on finding hope after the death of a sibling/parent. Megan’s father Mitch, author of Letters To My Son, and is founder of Proactive Grieving®, joins the conversation. Alan and Mitch close the show singing and signing to Thanks For the Little While. Words and music by Alan Pedersen.
