Harriet Hodgson

Harriet Hodgson has been a freelancer for 43 years, is the author of thousands of articles, and 42 books, including 10 grief resources. She is Assistant Editor of the Open to Hope website, a member of the Association of Health Care Journalists, Alliance of Independent Authors, Minnesota Coalition for Grief Education and Support, and Grief Coalition of Southeastern Minnesota. She is well acquainted with grief. In 2007 four family members died—her daughter (mother of her twin grandchildren), father-in-law, brother (and only sibling) and the twins’ father. Multiple losses shifted the focus of Hodgson’s work from general health to grief resolution and healing. She has appeared on more than 185 radio talk shows, including CBS Radio, and dozens of television stations, including CNN. In addition to writing for Open to Hope, Hodgson is a contributing writer for The Grief Toolbox website and The Caregiver Space website. A popular speaker, she has given presentations at The Compassionate Friends national conference, Bereaved Parents of the USA national conference, and Zoom grief conferences. Her work is cited in Who’s Who of American Women, World Who’s Who of Women, Contemporary Authors, and other directories. For more information about this busy grandmother, great grandmother, author, and speaker please visit www.harriethodgson.com.

Articles:

Thanksgiving Day Brings Sweet, Sad Memories

Thanksgiving is a hard day for me.  My parents were married on this day and my elder daughter, now deceased, was born on Thanksgiving.  I can still smell the tantalizing […]

Read More

Finding Daughter’s Purse Restarts Grief Four Years Later

The lower level of our house gets lots of use, especially in the winter time. We watch television there and work in our home office. Fourteen years ago, we had […]

Read More

Now I See: Grieving and Raising My Grandchildren

“You’re coming home with us,” I said.  My husband and I and our twin grandchildren were standing by the hospital’s emergency entrance.  Tragedy had found us again.  Nine months ago, […]

Read More

The Challenges of Relocation Grief

Relocation grief.  I feel it already, though I won’t move for at least four years.  When I look out the kitchen window at the apple trees, birds flying back and […]

Read More

Mass Murder in Norway Triggers Anticipatory Grief

The recent murders of innocent children and adults in Oslo, Norway, are a national tragedy.  Like September 11th, this tragedy causes anticipatory grief.  Usually we associate anticipatory grief with the […]

Read More

Grieving for Deceased Loved One and Broken Relationship

Grief comes in many forms, including the feelings associated with death,  anticipatory grief, and self–grief.  During the grieving process, we may also mourn for broken family relationships. My brother was […]

Read More

Not Everyone Benefits from Graveside Visits

  Many years ago, when I was in first grade, my parents and I visited an inner city grave.  It was my brother’s grave, a brother I never knew because […]

Read More

Recipes Link Her to Mother-in-Law, Memories

After my mother-in-law died, I received her copy of The Boston Cooking School Cook Book by Fannie Merritt Farmer. No other family members wanted the book, which surprised me, so […]

Read More

Mother Finds Comfort Saying Daughter’s Name

Few ask how I’m doing these days. Friends have resumed their lives and so have I. Today, I’m living a new, meaningful and happy life. Yet there are times when […]

Read More

The Comfort of a Red Cardinal in Wintertime

Losing four family members within nine months has been, and continues to be, the most challenging experience of my life.  My daughter and father-in-law died the same weekend.  Several months […]

Read More