Published Articles
2022 - July - Gazette - Legacy and Loss
Legacy and Loss
My sister-in-law died last week. Cancer was a part of Cheryl for many years and it ultimately squeezed the life out of her. Her loss left us with sadness as well as a legacy we wil...
Wednesday, July 27, 2022
2022 - July - StateCollege.com - Article by John Hook
Spiritual Director, Celebrant and End-of-Life Doula: My Wife’s Unusual Job Titles Mean Helping People Through Difficult Times
President, nurse, truck driver, doctor, sales associate, cook, teacher...
Monday, July 18, 2022
2022 - June - Gazette - Releasing Regrets
Releasing Regrets
My understanding of forgiveness expanded in a new way many years ago when our children were younger. It was one afternoon in our home when we had a playdate with another family. ...
Thursday, June 30, 2022
2022 - May - Gazette - Embrace the Journey
Embrace the Journey
I was facilitating a grief support group and discussing Alan Wolfelt’s six needs of mourners – acknowledge the reality of the death; embrace the pain of the loss; remember the ...
Thursday, May 26, 2022
2022 - April - Gazette - How Many Children Do You Have?
How Many Children Do You Have?
“How many children do you have?” Thankfully, for most people, this question has an easy answer. But for the parents of the one in four pregnancies in this country th...
Thursday, April 28, 2022
2022 - March - Gazette - A Walk with Grief
A Walk with Grief
My husband and I went for a “four-season” walk at Spring Creek Canyon a few weeks ago. When we arrived, it was overcast, foggy, rainy and cold – it felt like winter. After about ...
Thursday, March 31, 2022
2022 - March - CDT - Active Life
Moving Your Grief Through Writing
I set my timer for 10 minutes and they all began to write on unlined white paper. At this grief education and support gathering, the participants were either answ...
Sunday, March 13, 2022
Previous Posts
2022 - February - Gazette - Feeding Your Soul
Feeding Your Soul
For many years, I’ve had sensitivities to different foods. For example, I don’t eat pizza. When our kids were younger this resulted in a few humorous moments when they saw other ...
2022 - February - CDT - Helping Hands
A character in Sue Monk Kidd’s novel The Book of Longings, made a statement that jumped off the page and has resonated with me since. A brother said to his sister, “Your grief will come. Let it be ...
2022 - January - Gazette - Stories of the Heart
Stories of the Heart
I love it when a plan comes together. My husband was behind the wheel and I was in the passenger seat as we drove our son to train with a punting coach. While I sat there, I w...
2021 - December - Gazette - Life, Love and Light
Life, Love and Light
If you’re driving on South Atherton Street in State College this New Year’s Eve, we hope you notice the luminaries on Koch Funeral Home’s lawn. Each one of these luminaries re...
2021 - November - Gazette - Collective Grief, Collective Gratitude
Collective Grief, Collective Gratitude
Our Monday’s Moments at Millbrook Marsh program, in conjunction with Centre Region Parks and Recreation (CRPR), includes time for sharing, talking about diff...
2021 - November - CDT - Helping Hands
I love Thanksgiving! With its focus on family and gratitude, it’s one of the best holidays for me. Both of our children will be home this year, and since we’re all fully vaccinated, we’ll get to sp...
2021 - October - Gazette - Have the Talk of Lifetime
Have the Talk of a Lifetime
It was our usual Monday morning walk through the neighborhood about one month ago. My husband, John, and I were a little over one mile in and walking up a hill when he ...
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