Sitting in for Jennifer Zamparelli on RTÉ 2FM, Aifric O'Connell spoke with Kathie Stritch of Grief Ireland about grief retreats and helping people through the grieving process - listen back above.
In November of 2020, Kathie Stritch set up Grief Ireland as an online sanctuary where people could share their stories about death and grief, get advice from professionals, and find solace in a 'grief community'. She also runs day-long and weekend 'grief retreats' for those looking for support and connection.
The inspiration for the page came from Kathie's own awful loss. In September of 2014, her sister Elaine was diagnosed with a Grade IV brain tumour, leading to many stressful nights and medical appointments.
Soon after, in late 2015, Elaine's husband Pa lost his life in a tragic accident, leaving behind his wife and their two boys.
One year later, Elaine, who had been recovering well, began to feel ill again and eventually died in February 2017.
Understandably, the years of stress and loss left a huge mark on Kathie who says she now has a mission to connect, educate, commemorate, and build a community whilst supporting the bereaved and their support network.
The grief retreats, she says, were a response to the disconnection many people felt during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when many mourners were left to grieve in isolation.
"It was a traumatising time for a lot of us, lockdown," she says. "If you think of the stories of people saying goodbye to their loved ones through windows in nursing homes. And then, us, as Irish, we love a good funeral. We love the ritual. It's really important to us, that support, and the community comes together."
During COVID, Kathie's first retreat was a virtual one, whereby she held an Instagram live where followers could come on and share their stories.
"You're really sharing a part that is so difficult and so complex," she says. "You're sharing that with people and you become close so quickly. Whilst you can't ever understand what someone else is going through, at all, there are commonalities."
The success of the streams led her to hold 'real life' retreats which feature professional speakers, support groups, guided meditation, guided journaling, and sharing stories of loss.
"A big part of it, really, is mixing with the other people - we have downtime, we have a glass of wine. On one of the retreats we got up at six in the morning and did a bit of boxing on a remote beach and then a lot of them got into the sea afterward, and the laughter when they were coming out - it's healing, you know?"
Acknowledging that everyone's experience with grief is different, Kathie insists that everything on the retreat is optional, and attendees will be free to find what's right for them, whether it be journaling or boxing or something in between.
"There's such comfort about being in a room full of people who do get it," she says, noting that even the most well-meaning family and friends can be at a loss to know what to say.
To learn more about Grief Ireland, listen back to The Jennifer Zamparelli Show above.
