Mary Zemites

Mary Zemites faced the loss of her husband, Greg Jarczyk, in 1992. Left with three young children, ages 4 to 10, she immediately returned to school at Arizona State University to finish a Masters degree in 1993. She then went back to work while caring for her family. Two years after her husband's death, Mary's young nephew, Sammy, was lost to cancer. After suffering through and surviving her own loss, Mary was able to support her grieving sister in a way that others could not. This experience inspired her to begin a new journey of helping the bereaved. And for ten years, Mary has been a bereavement group facilitator at her church. Mary knows the pain of loss...but she also knows the value of support and friendship through that loss. As owner of InTimeOfSorrow.com she provides all of us with a way to reach out to those who are "walking through the valley of darkness" and help them ease back into the light of hope. Mary resides in Chandler, Arizona with her husband, Tom Zemites. She and Tom share five children and two granddaughters.

Articles:

The Healing Power of Forgiveness

When we suffer the death of someone we love, we experience mental, emotional and physical distress.  In this fragile state, it is likely that we will feel resentment, indignation or anger.  Sometimes these feelings may be the result of a perceived offense or difference with someone we know.  Even, perhaps, with our deceased loved one. During the final stages of my husband’s illness and after his death, I remember being surprised at the support and kindness of many people.  Some, I hardly knew.  I was also surprised by the absence of support and/or inappropriate remarks made by family and friends.  […]

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Who Burned My Roles? How Our Identity Changes After a Loss

Our roles in life define us.  Parent, spouse, student, employee, sibling, and offspring are some examples.  Our identity is shaped by these roles. Before my husband’s death, my defining roles were mother, wife and caregiver.  With three young children and a terminally ill husband, these responsibilities took up the majority of my waking hours.  When Greg died, that changed dramatically.  In the aftermath of this loss, I naturally felt lost and confused.  Much of this was due to grieving his absence.  But, as time passed, I realized that I was also grieving the loss of my roles of wife and […]

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