What Does a Funeral Director Really Do? Grief, Family Dynamics & the Power of Pre-Planning

BONUS: The First Year After Loss — Our New Book, the Grief Brain Reader Series & What Early Grief Really Looks Like

Nobody tells you what the first year of grief is actually going to feel like. Not the forgetting. Not the exhaustion. Not the moment when the casseroles are gone, the phone stops ringing, and the full weight of it finally hits you. In this special bonus episode of the GRIEF Ladies Podcast, Kelly Daugherty and Karyn Arnold talk about their brand-new book — The First Year After Loss — the first in their Grief Brain Reader series, launching June 16th on Amazon. They share: • Why they wrote this book — and who it's really for • The grief reactions that feel terrifying but are completely normal • The grief box analogy: why your box gets bigger, not your ball smaller • What "grief brain" is and why it changes how you read, remember, and focus • Why the Grief Brain Reader series is intentionally short, digestible, and accessible • How family and friends can use this book to better support the people they love "Grief is not over after one year — it evolves." Whether you're newly bereaved, supporting someone who is, or years into your grief journey, this episode will remind you that what you're feeling is real, it's valid, and you are not going crazy. The First Year After Loss is available June 16th on Amazon. As always, we close with an actionable step: find your support, tether yourself to something, and believe that help makes a difference. GRIEF Ladies: Your Guide to What Comes Next If you're ready to move forward without moving on—this show is for you. 🎧 Follow and connect: https://www.griefladies.com/ [https://www.griefladies.com/] Kelly Daugherty: https://www.kellydaugherty.com/ [https://www.kellydaugherty.com/] https://www.instagram.com/kelly_daugherty Karyn Arnold: https://www.griefincommon.com/ [https://www.griefincommon.com/] Stay up to date with all the latest information about The GRIEF Ladies- Sign up for our newsletter at: www.griefladies.com [https://www.griefladies.ccom] Join the FREE, Private Facebook GRIEF Ladies Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16WuZNsNGu/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16WuZNsNGu/] The GRIEF Ladies podcast offers education and support for people living with grief after someone they love has died. Our content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care or crisis services. If you are in crisis or concerned about your safety, call 988 in the U.S. or contact local emergency services. Guest perspectives shared on this platform are their own and may not reflect the views or positions of The Grief Ladies.

Coping with Pet Loss: Grieving a Beloved Dog & Preparing for End of Life

Coping with Pet Loss: Grieving a Beloved Dog & Preparing for the End of Life. Losing a pet can feel devastating — and yet pet grief is often minimized or misunderstood. In this episode (36), of the GRIEF Ladies Podcast, Adam Greenbaum shares the story of losing his Boston Terrier, Baxter, and how that experience led him to create Love Baxter, a resource supporting pet owners through end-of-life decisions and bereavement. We discuss: * Why pet loss is often disenfranchised grief * Preparing for a pet's end of life * The emotional toll of euthanasia decisions * Ways to celebrate and memorialize your pet * Finding support during pet bereavement * Our pets are companions, family, and witnesses to our lives. Their loss matters. As always, we close with practical steps you can take during your own grief journey. Guest Bio: Adam Greenbaum built WhiskerCloud—now part of PetDesk—into a platform powering 10,000+ veterinary clinics worldwide. When his Boston Terrier, Baxter, passed away in October 2024, Adam turned his grief into purpose and founded Love, Baxter, now the world's largest pet end-of-life resource. His mission: give every pet a calm, dignified farewell by connecting devoted pet parents with compassionate professionals. Connecty with Adam: https://lovebaxter.com/ [https://lovebaxter.com/] https://www.instagram.com/lovebaxterco [https://www.instagram.com/lovebaxterco] https://www.linkedin.com/company/love-baxter/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/love-baxter/] GRIEF Ladies: Your Guide to What Comes Next If you're ready to move forward without moving on—this show is for you. 🎧 Follow and connect: https://www.griefladies.com/ [https://www.griefladies.com/] Kelly Daugherty: https://www.kellydaugherty.com/ [https://www.kellydaugherty.com/] https://www.instagram.com/kelly_daughertyKaryn Arnold: https://www.griefincommon.com/ [https://www.griefincommon.com/] Stay up to date with all the latest information about The GRIEF Ladies- Sign up for our newsletter at: www.griefladies.com [https://www.griefladies.ccom] Join the FREE, Private Facebook GRIEF Ladies Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16WuZNsNGu/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16WuZNsNGu/] The GRIEF Ladies podcast offers education and support for people living with grief after someone they love has died. Our content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care or crisis services. If you are in crisis or concerned about your safety, call 988 in the U.S. or contact local emergency services. Guest perspectives shared on this platform are their own and may not reflect the views or positions of The Grief Ladies.

Mindfulness for Grief: How to Find Peace When Your Mind Won't Stop

Mindfulness for Grief: Finding Peace and Healing After Loss, Grief can pull you into the past or push you into fear about the future. Mindfulness invites you back to the present moment. In this episode, we talk with Holly McNeill about how meditation and mindful awareness can support healing after loss. We explore the P.E.R. L.O.V.E. framework, the role of gratitude in grief, and how acceptance helps create peace — even when life feels shattered. You'll hear: * How mindfulness changes your relationship with grief * Why meditation builds emotional resilience * The connection between gratitude and healing * How to practice presence during pain * Healing through grief is not about forgetting — it's about learning to be here now. * As always, we close with practical steps you can try this week. Guest Bio: Once designing hospitals and now designing peace of mind, Holly McNeill—known as The Mindfulness Architect—vowed at a personal low point to walk a more conscious path. Drawing from over two decades of study in neuroscience, quantum physics, psychology, spirituality, and Buddhism, she developed the P.E.R.L.O.V.E. Formula: a practical blueprint for transforming suffering into self-awareness, agency, and peace. After navigating profound personal loss and the unraveling of her identity, Holly came to see grief not as something to escape, but as a sacred gateway to transformation. Today, she helps others understand how their minds work so they can move through pain with clarity, compassion, and intention. Connect with Holly: Holly McNeill - The Mindfulness Architect [https://www.hollymcneill.com/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hollymcneillofficial Instagram: https://instagram.com/hollymcneillofficial/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hollymcneillofficial Podcast – Pay Attention: https://www.hollymcneill.com/podcast Email: holly@mindfulnessblueprints.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollymcneill/ GRIEF Ladies: Your Guide to What Comes Next If you're ready to move forward without moving on—this show is for you. 🎧 Follow and connect: https://www.griefladies.com/ [https://www.griefladies.com/] Kelly Daugherty: https://www.kellydaugherty.com/ [https://www.kellydaugherty.com/] https://www.instagram.com/kelly_daugherty Karyn Arnold: https://www.griefincommon.com/ [https://www.griefincommon.com/] Stay up to date with all the latest information about The GRIEF Ladies- Sign up for our newsletter at: www.griefladies.com [https://www.griefladies.ccom] Join the FREE, Private Facebook GRIEF Ladies Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16WuZNsNGu/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16WuZNsNGu/] The GRIEF Ladies podcast offers education and support for people living with grief after someone they love has died. Our content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care or crisis services. If you are in crisis or concerned about your safety, call 988 in the U.S. or contact local emergency services. Guest perspectives shared on this platform are their own and may not reflect the views or positions of The Grief Ladies.

What Does a Funeral Director Really Do? Grief, Family Dynamics & the Power of Pre-Planning

What does it really mean to be there for a family in their most vulnerable moment? In this episode (34) of the Grief Ladies podcast, Karyn and Kelly sit down with Brittany DeMarco-Furman, a licensed funeral director, to explore the deeply human side of the funeral industry. Brittany opens up about why interacting with grieving families is at the heart of everything she does — and how meaningful connection can make all the difference during one of life's hardest chapters. From the importance of pre-planning as a final gift to your loved ones, to navigating complicated family dynamics, to creating personalized memorials that truly honor a life lived — this conversation is full of wisdom, warmth, and practical guidance. You'll also hear how music, storytelling, and community support can become powerful tools for healing, and why it's never too late to hold a service or celebrate a legacy. In this episode, you'll learn: * Why pre-planning your funeral relieves stress for the people you love most * How funeral directors support families as guides, not just service providers * Creative ways to honor and celebrate a loved one's life * Why open conversations about death are an act of love * How sharing stories and memories can be part of the healing process "It's the last gift you can give your family." — Brittany DeMarco-Furman Whether you're in the midst of grief, supporting someone who is, or simply want to be better prepared, this episode reminds us that honoring a life well-lived is one of the most healing things we can do. Guest Bio: Brittany DeMarco-Furman, Licensed Funeral Director, is a fourth-generation licensed funeral director at Glenville Funeral Home, where she brings compassion, integrity, and meaningful storytelling to families during life's most vulnerable moments. Raised in the funeral home, Brittany learned the importance of dignity and service at a young age, becoming part of her family's more than 100-year legacy of care. She is a 2009 graduate of Burnt Hills–Ballston Lake High School and earned her Bachelor's Degree with honors from the University at Albany in 2013. After a period of personal exploration, Brittany returned home to pursue her calling in funeral service, completing her Mortuary Science Degree at Hudson Valley Community College and earning licensure after passing her National Board and New York State Law Exams. Brittany believes every life deserves to be honored with intention, personalization, and compassion—not only for the deceased, but for the loved ones left behind. Her work extends beyond the funeral home through education, advocacy, and community engagement. She played a key role in organizing and recruiting members for the Capital Region Nurses Honor Guard, with Glenville Funeral Home serving as a foundational partner in establishing the chapter. She is also the co-author of The Grief Experience: Tools for Acceptance, Resilience, and Connection and the creator and host of the podcast Buried in Conversation, where she leads honest, accessible discussions about grief, legacy, death care, and what it truly means to live well while acknowledging mortality. Deeply committed to community service, Brittany is an active Glenville Rotarian and regularly participates in charitable initiatives and educational programming throughout the Capital Region. Above all, Brittany considers her most meaningful role to be that of a mother. GRIEF Ladies: Your Guide to What Comes Next If you're ready to move forward without moving on—this show is for you. 🎧 Follow and connect: https://www.griefladies.com/ [https://www.griefladies.com/] Kelly Daugherty: https://www.kellydaugherty.com/ [https://www.kellydaugherty.com/] https://www.instagram.com/kelly_daughertyKaryn Arnold: https://www.griefincommon.com/ [https://www.griefincommon.com/] Stay up to date with all the latest information about The GRIEF Ladies- Sign up for our newsletter at: www.griefladies.com [https://www.griefladies.ccom] Join the FREE, Private Facebook GRIEF Ladies Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16WuZNsNGu/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16WuZNsNGu/] The GRIEF Ladies podcast offers education and support for people living with grief after someone they love has died. Our content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care or crisis services. If you are in crisis or concerned about your safety, call 988 in the U.S. or contact local emergency services. Guest perspectives shared on this platform are their own and may not reflect the views or positions of The Grief Ladies.

How Children Grieve: Supporting Kids (and Yourself) After a Loss

Grief doesn't look the same at every age. In this episode (33) of the GRIEF Ladies, we're joined by clinical social worker Jennifer Kimlingen to talk about how children process loss, why grief can resurface at different developmental stages, and how adults can create safe, supportive environments for grieving kids. You'll hear: * How children express grief at different ages * Why routine and structure help during acute loss * The role of self-compassion for caregivers * Storytelling as a powerful way to honor loved ones * Why it's okay not to have all the answers No child should ever grieve alone — and caregivers deserve support, too. As always, we close with practical steps you can try this week. Guest Bio: Jennifer Kimlingen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker whose passion is helping to create a more compassionate and accepting culture towards those who are grieving. Jennifer believes that humans can benefit from removing the fear and barriers around death and death education! She cares deeply about improving children's grief and bereavement experiences and presents on the topic every chance she gets! She is a Trauma-Thriver and hopeful to help as many other people as she can to develop their own meaning of survival and resilience, after facing some of the worst this life has to offer. Jennifer credits her father for her strong values and ethics, which led to her social work education and completion of her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Adelphi University in 2014. Her career background includes medical social work, grief and bereavement counseling and private practice. Jennifer currently provides grief education for mental health clinicians through the Agents of Change Continuing Education online platform. Her specializations include grief and bereavement, trauma and traumatic grief and loss. Jennifer is currently employed as a bereavement counselor with Choices Health (Hospice & Community Care & Hospice of Central Pennsylvania) and lives in Carlisle, Pennsylvania with her husband and two children. Connect with Jennifer: Direct Office # 717-598-4343 Email- jkimlingen@choiceshealth.org https://www.hospiceofcentralpa.org/our-services/bereavement/ [https://www.hospiceofcentralpa.org/our-services/bereavement/] Grief Education and Webinars with Agents of Change: https://agentsofchangeprep.com/continuing-education/live-ce-event-grief-therapy-recent-developments-and-applications/ [https://agentsofchangeprep.com/continuing-education/live-ce-event-grief-therapy-recent-developments-and-applications/] https://agentsofchangeprep.com/continuing-education/course-detail/childs-grief-journey/ [https://agentsofchangeprep.com/continuing-education/course-detail/childs-grief-journey/] GRIEF Ladies: Your Guide to What Comes Next If you're ready to move forward without moving on—this show is for you. 🎧 Follow and connect: https://www.griefladies.com/ [https://www.griefladies.com/] Kelly Daugherty: https://www.kellydaugherty.com/ [https://www.kellydaugherty.com/] https://www.instagram.com/kelly_daughertyKaryn Arnold: https://www.griefincommon.com/ [https://www.griefincommon.com/] Stay up to date with all the latest information about The GRIEF Ladies- Sign up for our newsletter at: www.griefladies.com [https://www.griefladies.ccom] Join the FREE, Private Facebook GRIEF Ladies Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16WuZNsNGu/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16WuZNsNGu/] The GRIEF Ladies podcast offers education and support for people living with grief after someone they love has died. Our content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care or crisis services. If you are in crisis or concerned about your safety, call 988 in the U.S. or contact local emergency services. Guest perspectives shared on this platform are their own and may not reflect the views or positions of The Grief Ladies.