Giving Grief Grace

When Jessica Kueck was just 11 years old, her 3-year-old brother Aaron drowned—an unspeakable tragedy that cracked her world open and quietly redefined her family. Jessica shares what it was like to be the “forgotten mourner,” the older sibling who held space for everyone else while her own grief went largely unseen. 

Now a devoted mother, spiritual seeker, and aspiring memoirist, Jessica reflects on how this early loss shaped her i...

This week we sit down with Ian McCartor—visual artist, hospice nurse, Certified Grief Counselor, and President & Executive Director of The Ash Rose Foundation. With over a decade of end-of-life care experience, Ian brings a rare combination of clinical compassion and creative vision to his work with grieving individuals and families.

At the center of this conversation is the compassion that Ian has for his clients as he walks wi...

This week we sit down with Kathy Morrison of Campbell River, British Columbia to discuss how the profound loss of her father at the age of four shaped her life in ways she only came to understand decades later. Raised in a family where emotions weren’t openly expressed, Kathy grew up carrying silent fears, unspoken questions, and a deep longing to feel "whole".

Decades later, it was the loss of her beloved dog th...

This week we sit down with the incredible Kerry Irish, LCSW, OSW-C, FAOSW—a psychosocial oncology counselor, interfaith minister, and co-founder of the Dempsey Center and dive into the world of oncology counseling. 

With nearly three decades of experience in oncology and hospice settings, Kerry shares what it means to walk beside someone through serious illness—not to fix or rescue, but to listen, witness, and hold space with compas...

Join us this week as we remember when my sister, Jennifer Collinson, my dad, Dallas Hartung, and I sat down to interview my mom, Emily Doak Hartung in an intimate garden-side legacy conversation as she was nearing the end of her life. 

She told us stories about her childhood, shared her greatest joys, highlighted the lessons she wanted to pass on, and described how she hoped to be remembered. What unfolded was a beautiful, vulnerabl...

In this heartfelt episode of Giving Grief Grace, wellness coach and yoga teacher Maria McKeon shares her powerful journey of transformation through grief, healing, and service. Maria opens up about the experiences that shaped her path—from founding a healing sanctuary for women with cancer to embracing holistic wellness as a way of life.

Rooted in mindfulness, movement, and deep compassion, Maria’s approach to grief is both practica...

In this deeply moving episode, artist, writer, and storyteller Jessie Hansen shares the story of how losing her father became the catalyst for profound personal transformation. What began as anticipatory grief after her father's cancer diagnosis turned into sudden loss after a fatal car accident. Rather than numbing herself with alcohol, Jessie chose sobriety—and in that choice, everything changed.

Jessie opens up about how she...

Through breathwork, Reiki, and guided meditation, interfaith Spiritual Director Cathie Wallace shares practical tools to help both caregivers and those facing the end of life cultivate inner peace. In this heart-centered conversation, we explore Cathie’s own journey of spiritual awakening and discuss the transformative power of presence, energy healing, and mindfulness.

Cathie brings decades of compassionate service to her current w...

What does it really mean to care for someone at the end of life? In this episode, we sit down with Registered Nurse Jean Jennings who has over 40 years of experience working in hospice care for both pediatric and adult patients. From practical advice to emotional support, she offers gentle guidance for caregivers navigating one of life’s most sacred and challenging journeys. 

Whether you're currently caring for a loved one or s...

Leon Roberts, a 6th generation funeral director uncovers the important conversations and decisions that shape the end of life. Leon and Lisa discuss how funerary practices have evolved over generations and explore ways people can plan ahead with compassion, clarity, and legacy in mind. They touch on the future of funerary services and what it was like for Leon growing up in Maine where the ground is frozen for much of the year! 

Whe...

 Meet Russell Charette & Deanne Lavallee - Russ & Deanne have a unique story in that they were friends when their kids were little and coached each others' kids in sports as they grew up. It wasn’t until they each lost their spouse to cancer and cancer complications that they reconnected. Their story is a unique one of love, laughter, and family. 

May their story demonstrate how life has many different chapters. It does...

Join me as I recount an adventure to Monet’s Garden in Giverny, France with my mother-in-law JoAnn in April 2024. This was one of my mom Emily’s final wishes and was an incredibly healing journey for me as a grieving daughter. Chloe of Normandy Experience and later Virginie of Olympe Art & Culture made our visit to Giverny unforgettable. I am forever grateful that these two women made time and space for us that day. You never k...

This short is a great analogy of my WHY. If this podcast helps just ONE person, then it will all be worth it.  

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Thanks for tuning in and we'll see you next week!

If you'd like to support my journey to see a world without pancreatic cancer, please consider donating to my NYC Marathon Project Purple fundraising page.

Special thanks to:

Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star Music

Podcast Music Good_B...

Hey there! Join me on my journey through grief after losing my mother to pancreatic cancer while simultaneously raising my newborn daughter. May this podcast offer you time to reflect on your own grief journey and learning something new. This community is here to give you the time and space to grieve at your own pace, in your own way. Sending love and hugs to all. 

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Thanks for tuning in and we'll see you next week!...