GriefHaven Blog | Insights and Stories of Healing

July 23, 2005

2005 – Peace of Heart Award

The Erika Whitmore Godwin Foundation Presents The 2005 Peace of Heart Award To Steven Turnbull and Credence Sol Attorneys from the Liner Yankelevitz Sunshine & Regenstreif Law Firm Susan Whitmore presenting the 2005 Peace of Heart Award to Steven Turnbull On July 23, 2005, The Erika Whitmore Godwin Foundation and griefHaven presented its 2005 Peace of Heart award to Steven Wade Turnbull and Credence Sol for their unwavering support in assisting the foundation in a lawsuit caused by a volunteer who had refused to return the Portrait of Grief; Badges of Courage tapes to the foundation until certain demands were met. After almost a year in court, the footage was returned to the plaintiffs, who held a celebration July 9 to thank the devoted lawyers of Liner Yankelevitz Sunshine & Regenstreif for handling the case pro bono. Susan presented attorneys Steven Turnbull and Credence Sol with the 2005 Peace […]

March 28, 2023

Fear of Losing Another Loved One. What to Do?

Once you have lost a loved one, the reality of death may weigh heavily on you, sometimes opening that place where you fear someone else you love may die. This could be anything from a small fear that resolves fairly quickly to a sense of impending doom where your mind regularly goes to terrifying places of what if. You might be on pins and needles every time your child leaves the house.

March 17, 2016

2016 – Spend the Evening With Dr. Eben Alexander

Special Evening With Dr. Eben Alexander A Note About Our Evening With Dr. Eben Alexander and Karen Newell Thank you for spending last Tuesday with us and sharing in the special Eben Alexander event. Whatever your reasons for attending, I hope you walked away with at least something that resonated with you and that will help you in your lives. As I said on stage, my goal, and the overall goal of griefHaven, is to find and bring to everyone various approaches to living life that educate, provide hope, and help all of us as we continue our lifelong journeys. The work I do with those who are grieving involves a lot of anguish and hopelessness for a while, and that was also true for me for quite some time. When people see me now, they often ask what I’ve done over the […]

March 1, 2012

2012 – Grant Presentation – Palisades Community

Thanks To YOU, Our Fundraising Event Was A Very Sweet Success Indeed! You helped us raise $617.86, the largest amount ever raised for a fundraising event at The Yogurt Shoppe! Clive Lewis, Susan Whitmore, Kevin Sabin Thanks To Kevin Sabin and Clive Lewis, Owners Of The Yogurt Shoppe, And all of you for buying frozen yogurt, for telling your friends to buy frozen yogurt, and for being a part of helping us support grieving parents and siblings, as well as educate others about grief. If You See Us Around Town, Please Wave Hello Or Give Us A Big Hug Love And Thanks Again From All Of Your Friends At griefHaven Susan Whitmore, Founder & President

October 19, 2020

The Day the Earth Stopped Spinning

When I lost my child,
the earth ceased to spin.
The moon will not rise,
the tide won’t come in.

The sun insists on having its way,
Blasting its rays and rising each day.
Another day comes,
my child is not here;
Another day comes,
I live my worst fear.

Each morning I wake with the same painful thought;
Why am I here when my sweet child is not?
All moments that pass, I question this fate;
While other lives carry on, I sit and I wait.

March 27, 2026

Why People are questioning the value of funerals – and how to dissuade them from doing so.

In my article in the February 2026 issue of The Director, I noted that the 2025 NFDA Cremation & Burial Report highlighted a number of the factors that have contributed to steadily rising cremation rates across North America.

May 28, 2021

Memory Details Fade Over Time

What information is retained in a memory over time, and which parts get lost? These questions have led to many scientific theories over the years, and now a team of researchers at the Universities of Glasgow and Birmingham have been able to provide some answers. Their new study, which is published today in Nature Communications, demonstrates that our memories become less vibrant and detailed over time, with only the central gist eventually preserved. Moreover, this 'gistification' of our memories is boosted when we frequently recall our recent experiences.

July 16, 2020

Why Are Memories Attached to Emotions So Strong?

Memories linked with strong emotions often become seared in the brain. Most people can remember where they were on 9/11, or what the weather was like on the day their first child was born. Memories about world events on Sept 10, or lunch last Tuesday, have long been erased. Why are memories attached to emotions so strong? "It makes sense we don't remember everything," says René Hen, PhD, professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. "We have limited brain power. We only need to remember what's important for our future wellbeing."

June 17, 2020

Coping With Grief

Losing someone you love can change your world. You miss the person who has died and want them back. You may feel sad, alone, or even angry. You might have trouble concentrating or sleeping. If you were a busy caregiver, you might feel lost when you’re suddenly faced with lots of unscheduled time. These feelings are normal. There’s no right or wrong way to mourn.Losing someone you love can change your world. You miss the person who has died and want them back. You may feel sad, alone, or even angry.

October 20, 2020

I Carry Your Heart With Me

i carry your heart with me
(i carry it in my heart)
i am never without it

(anywhere i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling)

October 20, 2020

Greasing the Cookie Sheet

Greasing the cookie sheet,
First time in 18 months.
Each stain rife with memories
Where the butter or the chocolate
Baked on brown , now etched into the aluminum;
Like the most valuable print I could possess,

March 31, 2021

How to Cope with Major Life Changes During the Pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic has changed life as we know it. While it’s no secret that the pandemic has had a negative impact on people and businesses around the world, you may still be able to see a silver lining in all of this. The changes brought on by the pandemic have forced many of us to adopt new routines, healthy habits, and stress coping mechanisms that will stick around long after the pandemic is over. Here’s how to make the best of any tough life changes you may be facing right now.