Impact Story Series: Lorraine's Story

At our Centre, we believe in the power of sharing stories to foster connection and healing. Recently, our student Taylor had the privilege of meeting Lorraine, who courageously shared her journey through sudden loss, profound grief, and eventual hope. Along with a cherished photo of Lorraine and her husband, her story reminds us of the deep pain that loss can bring, and the comfort that comes from finding community and support. Here is Lorraine's story:

In 2021, Lorraine’s world changed in an instant. Her husband of 34 years passed away suddenly at the age of 57. One moment, he seemed tired after starting a new job. The next, he was gone. Lorraine was left in shock; facing PTSD, grief, and the heavy loneliness of losing her life partner.

Pictured: Lorraine and her husband.

"My whole life was over in an instant." As a mother of two, she tried to stay strong but the loneliness was profound. She sought out grief support and came across our weekly Partner Loss Group here at the Centre for Grief and Healing which she began to attend. The group was specifically for people who had lost a partner just like her. She didn’t have to explain or compare her pain. People simply understood.

Thursday evenings became a lifeline.

'Evenings and weekends were the loneliest,” she shared. “Just knowing that there was a space each week where I could go made me feel less alone. Sometimes I didn’t feel better, but I felt normal."

She appreciated the flexibility of the drop-in group and the fact that it was always free. Lorraine could come when she needed support and step back when she didn’t, knowing the group would still be there when she was ready.

The stories and advice from other group members helped her feel validated and gave her real-life coping tools.

"It was encouraging to hear from people who had lived through it," she said.

With time, Lorraine chose to start living again. She remarried, retired, made new friends, and began exploring new interests. She says the group helped her see that it’s okay to feel more than one thing at once - grief, hope, sadness, and even joy.

"Grief is the other side of love," Lorraine said. "And support is out there. You’re not alone." "There’s no right or wrong way to grieve. You don’t have to go through it alone and you never have to pay to be heard or understood."

Lorraine’s story shows that while grief may never fully go away, having a caring, supportive  community can make all the difference. It reminds us that healing is possible and that we can each find our way forward, when we’re ready with the right support and strategies.

We are grateful to Lorraine for trusting us with her story and to Taylor for helping us bring this important message to our community. May it encourage others to seek support when they are ready and to hold space for their own unique healing journey.