What is one way you honor your grief?

We honor our grief by talking about Nana, my Mom, Kathy and the other people we’ve lost. We share stories about Nana, and we continue with many of her favorite traditions. Those favorites include making our family’s candy recipes around the holidays. We spend an entire evening busy baking and wrapping and watching Christmas movies together while also decorating our house for the holidays. My Mom loved a delicious steak, so we often make steak and her broccoli recipe for her birthday and her death anniversary. And finally, my Mom’s world was always with horses, so we honor her daily by taking care of her farm, her horses, and being together as much as possible on the farm.

What is one activity that you and your loved one would enjoy doing together?

My Mom loved horseback riding when she was able to ride, so Katy and I have continued this love of riding together, and John often joins as our best cheerleader and supporter.

What is a food you and your loved one would share together?

My Mom loved buttery popcorn, so anytime we have a movie night we have my Mom’s delicious buttery popcorn. 

What is one word you would use to describe Brooke's Place?

Harmony: Brooke’s place is harmony to me. Brooke’s Place has provided a brave space for me as a counselor and educator to learn and grow, while also providing a comforting space for my family (and so many other families) to grieve. Brooke’s Place offers that harmonizing feeling of safety and yet a challenge for growth into the future. 

What is your history/story/connection to Brooke's Place? 

I joined Brooke’s Place as a counseling student with the Butler School Counseling program in the October 2007 training directly following my husband’s Grandpa Thom’s unexpected death. It was the right time to grieve and I realized that my family and I didn’t have all of the tools, so the training was wonderful, both personally and professionally. In February 2008, I started with  A Program Night in the teen group. I was already working as a high school counselor and I realized that perhaps being with teens 24 hours a day, 5+ days a week was not the best way for me to learn, so I moved to the 6-9 year old group. I stayed with the 6-9 year old group for four years, and loved every minute of the buzzing grief work we accomplished together. After welcoming our daughter Katy, I felt a pull to join the Adult group in 2012. I had a wonderful co-facilitator, Tricia, who welcomed me and we were a dynamic duo for many years. The experience with the Adult group pushed me to apply for my doctorate in Counselor Education, which I completed in 2018. I have been teaching a Trauma and Grief course for the last seven years, which has been enriched by the skills and education shared through Brooke’s Place. I am a proud member and co-facilitator of the adult A night group and have been for 12 years. I am humbled to have spent most first and third Thursdays of every month thinking about grief and sharing love within that grief work for the last 17+ years.

John supported my participation in Brooke’s Place, and after my Mom’s death, he wanted to give back to Brooke’s Place with our daughter Katy. John and Katy served as the A Night Librarians for a few years, which they loved. They stopped due COVID and will be rejoining A Night as substitute buddies in 2024. 

Katy has experienced Brooke’s Place as a volunteer Librarian and a Therapy Service client. She values each experience, and has grown so much in her grief journey by using the tools she gained through Brooke’s Place. And she hopes to join as a Buddy in 2024!

Our family has been so lucky and blessed to experience the impact of Brooke’s Place through so many facets of our lives. We are honored to be a part of the 25 year journey, and we are excited to be volunteers and cheerleaders for many more years of Brooke’s Place!