Loss of a Family Member

After Loss of a parent

Stories of others who have lost parents will inspire and support you. Read, listen and watch. Hope is the bridge between loss and recovery.

Articles

  • My Father’s Conscious Dying

    Posted on June 10, 2024 - by Julie Nierenberg

    My Father’s Conscious Living As Father’s Day approaches, memories bubble up of my beloved dad. I grew up feeling valued by him, and as a kid, I was always willing to do my part. I learned that when everyone pitches in a reasonable portion of the work around the home, it makes the chores go smoothly. When shared with others, work can be a fun enterprise. Daddy always asked me to be his helper as he worked at various chores around our home. One of my favorite jobs was washing the car with him. He made it fun to lather […]

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  • When God Leads You to a Parent’s Deathbed

    Posted on May 27, 2024 - by Anne Peterson

    I got used to living a fatherless life, even before he died. When I thought about him, it was always followed by guilt, and then I would actually stutter. It was better to not think about him at all. And then one day my sister, Peggy called. “Hello Anne. You’ve got to come. It’s Dad. He’s dying of cancer.” Is she crazy? She knew what he had accused me of. He blamed me for our mother’s death. She knew all about that. And now she is telling me I need to come and see him? “No!” I shout. “I can’t.” […]

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  • A Writer’s Attempt to Outrun Grief

    Posted on May 20, 2024 - by Robin Finn

    A Writer’s Attempt to Outrun Grief I set my timer for twenty minutes and vow to write without stopping. I tell myself not to judge, not to edit, not to think, not to cross out, or hit delete, or re-read. Just keep my fingers dancing across the keyboard, I tell myself. Just keep moving. This is what I tell my students, and this is what I repeat in my head as I type. Just keep moving is a good strategy for writers because it keeps us from getting bogged down in our thoughts. For writers, thinking is not helpful. I think a lot of […]

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  • Handling Your Own End-of-Life Planning: A Thoughtful Goodbye

    Posted on May 20, 2024 - by Kathleen Rehl

    Handling Your Own End-of-Life Planning Each of us will eventually have to confront death. My late husband, Tom, died in my arms several years ago. Less than two months later, my 84-year-old mother passed with me at her side. While I deeply miss their physical presence, I still have their love and spirits with me today. I will always be grateful for the support of friends, family, and colleagues during that difficult time. Grieving the loss of a loved one is never easy, and many of you may have experienced similar heartache. Amidst my sorrow, I managed the estate settlement […]

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  • Soul and Grief Connection

    Posted on April 8, 2024 - by Ilana Estelle

    The soul and grief are deeply intertwined in many spiritual and philosophical traditions. It’s only natural that after someone dies, those they leave behind will start to question and want to find meaning. Grief can lead individuals to ask questions, prompting them to think about the nature of existence and the soul’s relationship with the material world. This journey, though difficult, can lead to profound insights and philosophical and spiritual growth, reshaping our understanding of life and death. BELIEVING IN THE AFTERLIFE  Believing in the afterlife can offer immense comfort to those grieving, providing a sense of continuation beyond physical […]

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  • Parentlessness with Parents

    Posted on March 2, 2024 - by S. Dione Mitchell

    The Realization I have 4 parents and yet most times, I feel parentless. The Story of My Parents The story of my parents began in the midst of two affairs that my mother and father had with each other; my mother having an affair outside of her marriage with the man I grew up knowing as Daddy; and my biological father having an affair outside of the marriage and family he’d built with his wife and three children. My biological father continued to raise his growing family, including a sibling my same age, a few short minutes away from where […]

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  • The Last Christmas Stocking

    Posted on December 24, 2023 - by Lisa Irish

    The First Christmas Stocking The first Christmas stocking I ever made was in 1960. I was 10 years old and living in Walnut Creek, California with my parents, Ted and Lillian. We didn’t have too many Christmas rituals, no church services or Advent candles. There was a china nativity set. It was small, but had all the important characters. We had a tree, of course. And my stocking. That red felt stocking was put up every year and I found it filled up every Christmas morning. As the Christmas of 1960 approached, my mom said, “This will be Daddy’s last […]

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  • Funeral Provides Children with Full Picture of Dad

    Posted on November 20, 2023 - by Ken Lefkowitz

    Funeral Provides Children with Full Picture of Dad During the day of my father Leo’s funeral, his sons were treated to much praise and tributes from members of the Factory Inspectors Union, many of whom attended Leo’s burial with sincere, deep respect. Leo’s oldest son, Phil, who had left Leo’s hospital bedside, returned for the funeral. At the grave site, Jake Peters, a union officer, philosophized to Leo’s three sons, “If you die and don’t accomplish anything, don’t leave a mark, you die for sure. But if you’ve impacted something, changing something, fought and stood up for something, you live […]

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  • Memory Boxes Help Daughter Let Go

    Posted on October 16, 2023 - by Sara Striefel

    On Labor Day, I spent the afternoon going through memory boxes in my father’s basement. Six white cardboard containers with my name written in Sharpie. As I opened each one, the locks to hidden boxes in my head unhinged as well. I was surprised at the hollow pull when I found remnants of my mother’s delicate cursive on the backs of watercolor pastels and frayed grammar books where she’d written my name and the date. The permanence and the impermanence of ink on paper. Her presence in the midst of her absence. Her whisper in the sweep of an “S” […]

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  • Reconnecting with Mom Through Plant Medicine

    Posted on September 18, 2023 - by Ken Breniman

    Losing Mom as a Teen I was only 18 when my mother succumbed to pancreatic cancer. However, in the following two decades, I persistently avoided the profound pain of being a motherless son. Though I maintained a façade of functionality, pouring my energy into my career and globetrotting adventures, my heart limped along, unable to foster any lasting or meaningful relationships. I had constructed an emotional barricade around myself, but it exacted a heavy toll in the form of escalating anxiety and a relentless yearning for reconciliation. If only my mom and I could have figured out a different way […]

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Open to Hope TV

  • Episode 216: Grieving Voices; Journeys of Loss

    Posted on May 29, 2024 - by admin

    Is it possible to find hope again after loss? Join hosts Dr. Gloria Horsley and her daughter Dr. Heidi Horsley, along with their guests Abby Dart and Meghan Riordan-Jarvis, as they discuss their journey out of the darkness and back into the light after losing loved ones. Abby Dart has a law degree from Loyola Law School and is a member of the California Bar. Following the death of her husband by suicide, she entered the political arena, lobbying for better mental health care. Meghan Riordan-Jarvis is a psychotherapist and hosts the podcast “Grief is My Side Hustle.” She has […]

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  • Episode 215: Sudden Traumatic Loss

    Posted on May 29, 2024 - by admin

    Have you experienced a sudden traumatic loss? If so, get tips and tools on how to navigate this difficult time. Join hosts Dr. Gloria Horsley and her daughter Dr. Heidi Horsley, along with their guests Meghan Riordan-Jarvis and Abby Dart, to discuss what helped them after traumatic loss and what might help you too. Meghan Riordan-Jarvis is a psychotherapist and hosts the podcast “Grief is My Side Hustle.” She has written two books: a memoir called “End of The Hour,” about her personal experience with PTSD after the successive deaths of her parents, and “Can Anyone Tell Me Why: Essential […]

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  • Episode 214: Navigating Health and Wellness After Loss

    Posted on May 29, 2024 - by admin

    The death of a loved one can take a physical, psychological, and emotional toll on us. How do we navigate health and wellness after loss? Join hosts Dr. Gloria Horsley and her daughter, Dr. Heidi Horsley, along with their guests Jeanne Jacobwitz and Meghan Riordan-Jarvis, as they discuss healthy ways to care for ourselves after loss. Jeanne Jacobwitz is a widow and board member at the W Connection, a nonprofit organization that helps widows. Jeanne teaches at Georgetown University in the graduate midwifery/women’s health programs and is currently conducting research on how bereavement can impact a widow’s health. Meghan Riordan-Jarvis […]

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  • Episode 212: Embracing Hope Anew After Multiple Losses

    Posted on January 22, 2024 - by admin

      Discover hope amidst multiple losses with insights from Dr. Gloria Horsley, Dr. Heidi Horsley, Jennifer O’Brien, and Dr. Barbara Hopkinson. Explore their personal journeys of overcoming the initial belief that finding hope was impossible. Jennifer O’Brien, author of the award-winning book “The Hospice Doctor’s Widow: A Journal,” and Dr. Barbara Hopkinson, founder of “A Butterfly’s Journey,” a non-profit focusing on resilience after loss, share their experiences of ultimately finding hope despite initial doubts.

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  • Episode 210: Developing Passion and Purpose After Loss

    Posted on December 21, 2023 - by admin

    Does it feel impossible to develop passion and purpose after loss? Join Dr. Gloria Horsley and her daughter Dr. Heidi Horsley, along with their guests Elizabeth Coplan, Ken Ross, and Claudia Coenen to discuss how they eventually found passion and purpose after loss. Elizabeth Coplan turned her personal loss into the groundbreaking play cycle Grief Dialogues. Ken Ross is the son of Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and serves as the founder and President of the EKR Foundation. Claudia Coenen is the author of the acclaimed book, Seasons of Grief: Creative Interventions to Support Bereaved People.

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  • Episode 209: Finding Hope After an Anticipated Loss

    Posted on December 20, 2023 - by admin

    What is unique about anticipated loss and how does one find hope again? Join Dr. Gloria Horsley and her daughter Dr. Heidi Horsley, along with their guests Ken Ross, Elizabeth Coplan, and Jennifer O’Brien to discuss their experience with anticipated loss. Ken Ross is the son of Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and serves as the founder and President of the EKR Foundation. Elizabeth Coplan turned her personal loss into the groundbreaking play cycle Grief Dialogues. Jennifer O’Brien is the author of, the award-winning book, The Hospice Doctor’s Widow: A Journal.

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  • Episode 207: From Grief to Peace

    Posted on November 13, 2023 - by admin

    Does moving from grief to peace after a loss feel impossible?  Join Dr. Heidi Horsley, and her guests’ Heather Stang, Dr. Wendy Lichtenthal, and Gina Moffa, as they discuss how to move from grief to peace after a loss.  Heather Stang’s book From Grief to Peace, was the inspiration for this show.  She is also the author of Mindfulness & Grief, and hosts the Mindfulness & Grief Podcast.  Dr. Wendy Lichtenthal is a psychologist and Director of the Center for the Advancement of Bereavement Care at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.  She has been at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center […]

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  • Episode 206: Making Meaning After Loss

    Posted on November 13, 2023 - by admin

    Have you ever wondered how to make meaning after a loss?  Join Dr. Heidi Horsley, and her guests’ Dr. Wendy Lichtenthal, Gina Moffa, and Heather Stang as they discuss meaning making, and what it actually is.  Dr. Wendy Lichtenthal is a psychologist and Director of the Center for the Advancement of Bereavement Care at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.  She has been at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center since 2005, and her federally-funded research was the inspiration behind this show about meaning making.  Gina Moffa is a licensed psychotherapist, who authored the book, Moving on Doesn’t Mean Letting Go: A […]

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  • Episode 205: Moving on Doesn’t Mean Letting Go

    Posted on November 13, 2023 - by admin

    Are people telling you that in order to move on after a loss, you have to let go? Join Dr. Heidi Horsley, and her guests’ Gina Moffa, Heather Stang, and Dr. Wendy Lichtenthal, as they discuss healthy ways to stay connected with those we have loved and lost. Gina Moffa is a licensed psychotherapist, whose book, Moving on Doesn’t Mean Letting Go: A Modern Guide to Navigating Loss, was the inspiration for this show. Heather Stang, is the author of Mindfulness & Grief and the guided journal, From Grief to Peace, and hosts the Mindfulness & Grief Podcast. Dr. Wendy […]

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  • Episode 202: Coping with Parent Loss

    Posted on October 28, 2023 - by admin

    Are you feeling overwhelmed and trying to figure out how to cope with the loss of a parent? Join Dr. Heidi Horsley and her guest’s Adam Rabinovitch, Claire Sharkey, and Judy Lipson.  On this show, you will learn tips and tools to help navigate life after a parent’s death.  Adam Rabinovitch is the Executive Director for COPE, and Claire Sharkey is a licensed clinical social worker, and the Clinical and Program Director for COPE.  COPE is an organization dedicated to helping parents and families living with the loss of a child. Judy Lipson is no stranger to grief, as she […]

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