Most people plan for retirement… Amy D’Amico had to plan for her husband’s death, her own cancer diagnosis, and what came next.
When Ron was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Amy became a full-time caregiver, a reluctant household CFO, and eventually, a widow. Then came her own breast cancer diagnosis. How do you hold it all together when everything feels like it’s falling apart? And how will you navigate when you’re suddenly responsible for every financial decision, every legal document, every next step?
In this episode, Amy joins Justin to share what it was like to sit beside her husband through treatments while quietly learning how to manage their finances, pay the bills, and prepare for what was coming. She opens up about the reality of widowhood, how scammers targeted her weeks after the funeral, how she handled a surprising shortfall in Ron’s life insurance, and why she made the decision to plan her own funeral in advance.
There’s grief here, of course, but also structure, self-reliance, and a quiet sense of strength. If you’d like to find out what real financial preparation looks like in the face of cancer, loss, and everything that follows, Amy’s story offers a powerful and honest glimpse.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Grief, Money, and the Story Behind the Podcast
02:59 Widowhood and Dual Cancer Diagnoses
21:25 How to Build a Support System During Illness
37:30 Financial Planning Before and After Loss
56:16 First Financial Steps After a Spouse’s Death
01:02:52 Medical Bills, Insurance, and the True Cost of Care
01:12:40 Scams That Target the Recently Widowed
01:17:49 Reclaiming Your Life and Reframing Retirement
Links
Canon-McMillan Horizon Foundation: http://www.cmhorizonfoundation.org/
Connect with Justin Weidenfeld:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-weidenfeld/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-currency-of-grief-podcast/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecurrencyofgrief_podcast
Website: https://www.ironbridgewc.com/team/justin-weidenfeld
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