GriefSPEAK: A sign of comfort – Mari Nardolillo Dias

A person using a smartphone in front of a crowd.

by Mari Nardolillo Dias, contributing writer on grief and grieving JoJo died at the age of 36, a successful attorney and a lover of humanity, he passed from an accidental overdose on September 14, 2016 at 11pm, just short of his 37thbirthday. His mom, Deb, was numb with the pain of losing her first born…

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GriefSPEAK: Valentine’s wonder for broken hearts – Mari Nardolillo Dias 

Two red heart shaped balloons against a blue sky.

By: Dr. Mari Nardolillo Dias  Pamela’s mother passed this week, and her 50-something year old husband is in hospice care with a fatal disease. He doesn’t have too much longer. One might think that Pam has a broken heart, with one death and an upcoming one. A broken, bleeding heart for Valentine’s Day.   Pamela surprised…

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GriefSPEAK: Life of sighs – Mari Nardolillo Dias

A woman's hair is blowing in the wind.

By: Mari Nardolillo Dias, contributing writer “There are few things in life more telling than a sigh. There is the sigh of resignation or relief, the sigh of exasperation or exhaustion, the sigh of deep peace and relaxation, the dizzy sigh of inebriated love, and the sigh that lies at the bottom of the well…

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GriefSPEAK: “I’m dead. Now what?” – Mari Nardolillo Dias

An open book with a heart cut out of it sitting on top of a bookshelf.

By: Mari Nardolillo Dias, contributing writer  “There’s only so much time before we die  We don’t know when, we don’t know why  Thinking that our life’s a race  Skipping sleep to keep the pace.  On your stone will be your name  But not the things you’ve done in vain  A place to talk with no…

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Morris Nathanson, arts community icon, passes away at 95 (updated)

A man with glasses and a mustache standing in front of a brick building.

Morris Nathanson, born in Providence, Rhode Island on September 9th, 1927, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 17th, at the age of 95.  Mr. Nathanson grew up in Pawtucket, and at the age of 17, enlisted in the Navy, where he served in the Pacific Theater as a medic aboard the LSD Catamount. Mr. Nathanson…

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GriefSPEAK: Ambedo, one with a teardrop – Mari Nardolillo Dias

A group of candles in a row with a blurred background.

By: Mari Nardolillo Dias  Updated May 17, 2024 Ambedo:  “a kind of melancholic trance in which you become completely absorbed in vivid sensory details…briefly soaking in the experience of being alive, an act that is done purely for its own sake…”  Erin often experiences ambedo yet finds it disturbing. Rachel experiences ambedo on a weekly basis…

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GriefSPEAK: Black fascination – Mari Nardolillo Dias

Black and white photo of men carrying a casket.

By: Mari Nardolillo Dias, contributing writer “Excuse my black fascination. Can you hold a thought of final destination? …Please don’t mind my temptation, excuse my black fascination.” Dean Petrella (Distractions). Death is the last ‘bad” word. Many are terrified of the thought of dying; some look forward to the transition. Looking forward to seeing those…

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GriefSPEAK: The seasons of our passing – Mari Nardolillo Dias

The great smoky mountains in autumn.

By: Mari Nardolillo Dias, EdD, contributing writer Updated in 2023 as fall is upon us and the seasons pull at our emotions, sadness, and, inevitably renewal… It was a cold January that year. Julie’s husband Sam, her life-long love and soul mate was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and passed shortly after at the…

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GriefSPEAK: Death be not proud – Mari Nardolillo Dias

A group of surfers on a pier at sunset.

By: Mari Nardolillo Dias Loretta came to me for both death doula and obituary writing services. She was diagnosed with ALS and was well aware of the fatal outcome. She spoke to me about celebrating the 40th birthday of her twin boys. “How did 40 years go by so quickly? I feel like I blinked…

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