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 identity, how her grief evolved over the decades, and how becoming a parent brought newfound healing. We talk sibling dynamics, silent burdens, Jewish traditions, spiritual embodiment, and the deep wisdom she’s gained by navigating this invisible grief.
Jessica’s story is an invitation to recognize the losses we don’t always name—and to offer compassion to the siblings who are so often left behind. Her message is simple but powerful: you are not alone, and your grief matters.
~~~
To connect with Jessica, you can message her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessica.kueck86/
Jessica mentions a few sibling loss resources:
Books:
Always A Sibling: The Forgotten Mourner's Guide to Grief https://www.amazon.com/Always-Sibling-Forgotten-Mourners-Guide/dp/030683149X
Surviving Sibling Loss: The Invisible Thread that Connects Us Through Life and Death https://www.amazon.com/Surviving-Sibling-Loss-Invisible-Connects-ebook/dp/B08RSPGWW8
Remembering Ruth: A Memoir of Childhood Sibling Loss https://a.co/d/5loqGsw
Coping With Sibling Loss in Adulthood: When Your Brother or Sister Dies in Adulthood: Dealing With Grief, Guilt, and Regret. (The Turning Point Series) https://www.amazon.com/Coping-Sibling-Loss-Adulthood-Brother/dp/B0D9N63TZ1/
The Empty Room: Understanding Sibling Loss https://www.amazon.com/Empty-Room-Understanding-Sibling-Loss/dp/0743201523
Other:
The Sibling Loss Project https://siblinglossproject.substack.com/
Sibling Loss Grief Group https://www.gretchnevans.com/our-sibling-grief-groups
The Surviving Siblings Podcast https://www.thesurvivingsiblings.com/
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_Music
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!