After the murder of her son, Khaaliq, Dorothy took both her personal and professional experiences as a grief and loss counselor to guide others towards healing. She founded Mothers in Charge, an organization against violence in Philadelphia.
As we know, boomer women and men are eager to explore next steps in their lives and connect with others going through this time of life. This article talks about a group of New Jersey women, "Boomer Chicks", who have found "female bonding" through activities and discussions with a trained counselor. With full-time work taking up much of their time, they found that they didn't develop the kinds of friendships that their mothers did, many of whom were homemakers. There are a growing number of resources for seeking connections and direction. Check out the Coming of Age website for resources, the Age for Change e-book, The Transition Network...and this newsletter for upcoming workshops and events.
Funerals and the word "solemn" have always gone together. But, as more and more mourners are turning to friends and relatives to tell the story of their loved ones, there are smiles amidst the grief. While clergy still officiate at most of these services, those close to the deceased are providing a personal, and often humorous, glimpse that brings tears of laughter, as well as sadness. As one person who spoke at his 39-year-old friend's funeral put it, "A rabbi's eulogy tells what someone was. I wanted my eulogy to tell who he was."
