GriefSPEAK: What’s in a name? Madonna Della Civita – Mari Nardolillo Dias

by Mari Nardolillo Dias, EdD, contributing writer on grief and grieving In honor of St. Mary’s Day – Madonna Della Civita – celebrating in grand style this weekend in Knightsville, Cranston, RI, most notably. One of my favorite childhood bedtime stories was an old Italian legend that I called ‘the miracle story”. “Once upon a…

Read More

GriefSPEAK: Write your name on your body – Mari Nardolillo Dias

hurricane

by Mari Nardolillo Dias, EdD, contributing writer on grief and grieving This article was originally published after a national disaster in 2024 – given the Texas – now Mexico – now North Carolina flood disasters, it seems appropriate to reprint it here, now: They said, “Write your name on your body with waterproof indelible ink.”…

Read More

GriefSPEAK: Empty Nests – Mari Nardolillo Dias

by Mari Nardolillo Dias, EdD, contributing writer, grief and grieving “After all these years, all the smiles and the tears I am on the other side, watching my kids take the ride Like me they’ll be too stubborn I know that they won’t see But All it is I want, for them is to be free…

Read More

GriefSPEAK: Kill Switch – Mari Nardolillo Dias

grieving

by Mari Nardolillo Dias, EdD, contributing writer on grief and grieving “Kill Switch” This has been a difficult, emotionally complicated week. Paula Petrella, who was another mother to me a long time ago, passed at the age of 95. Death ushered her from this world, following a life well-lived and well loved. Vincent Michael McDonald’s…

Read More

GriefSPEAK: Angel wings with footprints – Mari Nardolillo Dias

by Mari Nardolillo Dias, EdD, contributing writer He kicked her repeatedly in the abdomen. As a teen in her sixth month of pregnancy, she was a bit naïve about pregnancy and birth. Shortly thereafter, she began experiencing strong cramping and delivered the fetus. It was a girl. She screamed at her partner to call a…

Read More

GriefSPEAK: Time – Mari Nardolillo Dias

A silver pocket watch hanging from a chain.

by Mari Nardolillo Dias, contributing writer, grief and grieving “We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they’re called memories. Some take us forward, they’re called dreams. “ (Jeremy Irons) “We kill time. We save time. We rob and get robbed of time, we lose time, and we have all the time in…

Read More

GriefSPEAK: Irish Eyes – Mari Nardolillo Dias

Green harp with wings on green background.

by Mari Nardolillo Dias, EdD, contributing writer on grief and grieving The literature states that the most common time of death is between 2am and 5am. Not so for Margaret. It seems she had a plan. As the matriarch of a large Irish family of thirty-nine children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren: the most recent 3…

Read More

GriefSPEAK: A stroke of genius – Mari Nardolillo Dias

Tree faces with birds connecting them.

By: Mari Nardolillo Dias, EdD, contributing writer, grief and grieving She said she was grieving due to a loss of words. Not voice. Words. Her name is Rosetta, aptly named after the stone.  Whether hieroglyphics or shorthand, the stone “represents a crucial key in the process of encoding information.” Rosetta is a stunning 60-year-old woman,…

Read More

GriefSpeak. Technology in Death and Grief – Mari Nardolillo Dias

Person holding phone with blue backpack.

by Mari Nardolillo Dias, EdD, contributing writer, grief and grieving Names and Places have been changed to ensure confidentiality. The fact that technology is ubiquitous can present both advantages and disadvantages in the field of Thanatology (Study of Death and Dying). Take Diana, a single mom of three teenage sons. The boys, Jack, Jim and…

Read More

GriefSPEAK: Larry’s Lament – Mari Nardolillo Dias

Doctor consulting with a soldier in uniform.

By Mari Nardolillo Dias, EdD – contributing writer The story of an unsuccessful suicide attempt Larry was tired. Tired of living. He was 55 years old, and his successful 33-year-old business was going downhill, there were problems at home and alcohol wasn’t the solution anymore. But Larry had a plan – a plan to end…

Read More