Impact Story Series: Anne’s Story
- Victoria Berry
- Jul 20
- 3 min read
At Bereaved Families of Ontario – Halton/Peel, we believe in the healing power of connection. Our Impact Story Series offers space for community members, staff, and volunteers to share, in their own words, how grief has shaped their lives — and how support, understanding, and shared experience can create moments of light in the darkest times.
In this story, Anne Kyrle shares her journey following the devastating loss of her husband, Brian, in 2023. With honesty and vulnerability, Anne reflects on what it was like to reach out for support in the midst of overwhelming grief, and how connection with others facing similar losses helped her begin to heal. We're honoured to share Anne’s words, her photo of Brian, and a poem she found comfort in — one that touched not only her heart, but those of others in her group as well.
My dear Bereaved Families of Ontario,
This is my story of how BFO – CFGH has impacted my life.
I lost my husband Brian in June 2023 when he suffered a massive catastrophic stroke. Losing him was by far the most painful and disorienting experience I have ever faced. He was my person in every sense of the word – my partner, my best friend and my soulmate – we were together for 36 years. I felt scared, alone and totally isolated. It really seemed like no one could truly understand what I was going through. I knew I really needed help navigating this experience and that’s when I was blessed to find BFO while I was frantically googling grief support. When I first joined, I had individual support by phone once a week. That support was literally a lifeline for me. After that I joined the “Mixed Loss” group as it was called at the time and then I started attending the “Partner Loss” sessions.
From my very first contact with BFO, I was met with compassion, understanding, and a sense of community. When I joined the Partner Loss group, everyone there had experienced the unique loss of a spouse, and that shared understanding created a space where I could finally speak freely, cry openly, and most importantly — begin to heal.
The group gave me tools to navigate the grief, but more than that, it gave me hope. The stories, the empathy, the moments of laughter amid the tears — they reminded me I wasn’t alone. I felt so supported by people who had walked a similar path, including the facilitators, and who reminded me that healing is possible, even if life will never be quite the same.
The facilitators held space for each of us with compassion, patience, and wisdom. They never rushed our pain or tried to fix what couldn’t be fixed. Instead, they gently guided us toward understanding and acceptance, at our own pace. Their empathy, deep listening, and steady presence helped transform a room full of strangers into a circle of comfort and connection.
It’s not easy to walk with people through their darkest days, but the BFO facilitators do so with grace and unwavering dedication. I’m deeply grateful for the care and skill they bring to this vital work. Their guidance was and continues to be, a light in a very dark time.
With heartfelt thanks,
Anne Kyrle
A Note from Anne
Anne has also chosen to include a poem that holds deep meaning for her. Though the original author is unknown, it has offered comfort not only to Anne, but to others in the Partner Loss Group. We share it here with gratitude for its resonance and the hope it carries for all who are grieving.
We are deeply grateful to Anne for sharing her story, her memories of Brian, and the words that have brought her comfort. Stories like hers remind us of the strength it takes to grieve, the courage it takes to reach out, and the power of connection in navigating life after loss.
If you’ve been touched by Anne’s story or want to help us continue offering compassionate, accessible support to others in grief, we invite you to learn more about our work or make a donation. Your support helps us continue being there — one story, one connection, one step at a time.
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