Mary Francis - The Sisterhood of Widows: Sixteen True Stories of Grief, Anger and Healing

SIXTEEN TRUE STORIES of
GRIEF, ANGER and HEALING

MARY FRANCIS

the
SISTERHOOD
of WIDOWS

Copyright 2010 Mary Francis. All rights reserved.

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ISBN: 978-1-60037-779-2 (Paperback)
Library of Congress Control Number: 2010922578

This book is dedicated to my beloved husband, Donnie.
Thank you for the twenty-seven year chapter in my lifes book.

And

To all the widows, young and old, who
are weathering the tailspin of that first year.

Mary Francis has mapped a journey that none of us wish to embark upon; widowhood. This book chronicles the experiences of sixteen women who have made that journey revealing the host of emotions and challenges they encountered along the way. If youve been widowed your journey will be unique, but I believe you will find comfort, strength and inspiration in the courage that is the common thread here. In the equally brave act of sharing their stories, these women have offered a gift to those who will follow in these difficult footsteps.

HOLLY REID
Preplanner/Aftercare Advisor,
Brenans Funeral Homes, Saint John,
New Brunswick, Canada

Finally! A motivational book to help widows face an incredibly difficult time. The life lessons they share reveal their raw and real experiencesemotionally, financially and physically. In the health care profession, we see women put themselves last in a crisis and their health deteriorates because of it. This book is a wonderful collection of life after loss experiences and how women not only survive, but find a way to thrive.

NATALIE TREADWELL
Founder of Food For Life Healthy Lifestyle

Having my mother widowed at a young age, I experienced first hand the trials and tribulations she faced being left with four young children. As an adult, reading these pages has helped me to relate to how and why my mother dug in to overcome the daunting emotional and financial obstacles she faced. Being a strong mother and father figure she instilled strong spirituality, morality and work ethics into her children, making all of us what we are today.

A book of this nature would have been a tremendous support to her at that time, just knowing she wasnt alone. I am very confident that this collection of intimate stories will not only help, but will put widows in a place of hope which they may never have thought possible.

STEPHEN SPIRES, Owner, Smet Monuments

The majority of society chooses not to speak of death and loss. As a Hospice Patient-Family Volunteer I have been with loved ones that will not seek help that choose to carry on and never get past their feelings of guilt and loss. Those feelings affect their lives and those they love on many levels and will prevent them from having an abundant life.

Mary Francis has provided a light through the tunnel of grief and a source of comfort and understanding to widows that only someone who has endured this kind of loss can provide.

DEBORAH RYAN
Hospice Patient-Family Volunteer

I applaud Marys ability to both recognize a definite need for widows who are coping with the loss of their husband, and her fortitude and approach in completing this work. Mary, as a recent widow, was able to realize that only a widow can offer the best advice to another widow. Each testimony gives different insight and understanding into the transition of wife to widow. These testimonies layered together under one cover, offer a needed comfort to a new widow.

Mary gives the reader the opportunity to write their own chapter and formulate their own healing strategy by translating the personal testimonies of fifteen widows and adding her own. Well done.

TODD D SOPER
President, Todd D Soper Financial Services Inc.

In reading the short stories about widows by Mary Francis she has brought out the true meaning of Sisterhood. Many women of today do not realize their strengths of durability, tenacity and most of all resilience. She is letting the world know the true strength of our gender.

I am associated with a very fun Sisterhood known as The Red Hat Society where I have the privilege of witnessing acts of Sisterhood constantly.

DIANNE OBRIEN
[Red Hat Queen of The Lucky Lady Bugs]

Mary has provided us with a collection of stories that are both moving and inspiring. I recommend this book to those who grieve, who need to know they are not alone in how they feel and think. I also recommend it to Pastors, like myself, who need to be reminded of what it is like to walk through the valley of the shadow of death.

PASTOR EDWARD POWELL
Grand Bay Baptist Church

Some of us can only imagine the many emotions experienced by Mary Francis and the widows who contributed to this amazing book. Each womans story is unique yet similar in many ways. Though their pain, anger, fear and loneliness are at times overwhelming to read, always present in the fabric of their stories is a sense of hope and in many cases a strong faith