Death of A Loved One

Mourning a Man I Never Knew

This spring, I turned fifty-four. I have now outlived the father I never knew: my biological father. It’s been almost twenty-three years since we spoke; eighteen years since I learned of his death. I’m still dealing with the strange grief of his loss.

Adam – Things that are OK to do

Adam talks about things he does to cope with grief like singing and crying

Doodles

On the first anniversary, I invited people who would understand – friends who knew Marshal’s love of art, and his creative spirit. They all came.

I had copied several of Marshal’s doodles of incomplete characters and creatures, with some finished for the kids to color. I eagerly watched to see which doodle or drawing each person chose.

Russell – “My Story”

Russell discusses learning how to deal with the loss of his son.

Karyn and Aidan – The what if game and guilt

Karyn and Aidan explain how they have dealt with guilt

Karyn and Cathy – “Suicide”

Karyn and Cathy discuss how the stigma of suicide impacted the lack of acknowledgement of their grief and loss. Karyn and Cathy continues to grieve the death of their father by suicide.

Russell – “Relationship”

Russell discusses how loss affects relationships. Russell continues to grieve the perinatal death of his son.

Cheryl – “Complicated Grief”

Cheryl discusses unresolved grief.

John – My Story

John tells the story of his wife became ill suddenly and died

Michael – “A story of loss and longing”

Michael relays a story of a man coping after the loss of his wife.

Krista – “Dealing with it”

Krista tells about the differences people have in dealing with it. Krista continues to grieve the death of her son from opioid overdose.

Bryan – Mom

Bryan gives his mother credit for how well she raised her two sons after her husband was murdered