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Grief and the CourtsThree years following her son’s death, Gwen was asked by Christine Goguen, Bereavement Services Coordinator, Bereaved Families of Ontario-York Region, if she could write a paper on how grief is impacted by the court system. This article expanded into a not-for-profit booklet: Grief and the Courts is available online.
In 2010, Gwen was recognized with the Attorney General’s Victim of Distinction Award: as an individual, personally impacted by crime, who has raised the profile of victims’ issues in the province of Ontario. If you are faced with a court session, which stressfully involves the person who has caused the death of your loved one, please read this booklet. It’s a little bit like having your hand held, by someone who “gets it.” I am deeply sorry for your loss. For your print ready copy of Grief and the Courts click here |
One of the contributing writers to Life Came to a Standstill, Suzanne (Suzy) Richardson, held an enduring dream:
Suzy yearned to create a grief-booklet in honour of her daughter Robin, who had tragically died. As well, she sought to offer consolation to others in the midst of their darkest hours. Through the auspices of Bereaved Families of Ontario—Midwestern Region, under their banner, with tireless contributions from their volunteers, her vision began. Now because of BFOMR, in conjunction with invaluable consistent input from Helen Jay (bereaved mom of Adrian, and contributing writer to Life Came to a Standstill), Suzy’s dream is a long-hoped-for reality. To view and/or print this helpful not-for-profit booklet please click here |
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More resources for your journey:
Life Came to a Standstill, along with the above booklets, makes a good beginning to your support library. As we go along, I will add titles that I feel may be well worth checking out. Books can offer compassionate solace anytime of day or night. To quote Suzy: "Reading: A Light in the Darkness." Following are eight suggestions:
- The Worst Loss: How Families Deal From the Death of a Child, by Barbara D. Rosof
- Healing After Loss: Daily Meditations for Working through Grief, by Martha Whitmore Hickman
- Choices: Taking Control of Your Life and Making It Matter, by Melody Beattie.
- Unattended Sorrow: Recovering from Loss and Reviving the Heart, by Stephen Levine, which addresses, with compassion, the cumulative hurts and disappointments of a lifetime.
- Man's Search for Meaning, written in the 1940's by Viktor E. Frankl, truly it is a timeless and life-affirming work . . . small in size, yet enormous in stature.
- One of Helen Jay's favourite books on grief: After the Darkest Hour The Sun Will Shine Again, by Elizabeth Mehren.
- Grief Works, Stories of Life, Death, and Surviving, by Julia Samuel: A powerful, sustaining, and validating handbook for your life journey.
- Mourning Has Broken: Love, Loss, and Reclaiming Joy: Erin Davis, a beloved broadcaster, bravely shares the tragic loss of her precious daughter, Lauren; thereby holding forth a glimmer of hope to those who walk the lonely isolating path of grief.
Please offer your feedback on any of these titles. If you have a book you would like featured here please let me know.
