I'll Always Remember | Grief Stories

This podcast’s purpose is to be a place for you to come and listen to regular people share their own stories about their lost loved ones and where we can all come together to support one another through the grief process. Join me as I will be doing one on one interviews with those who have experienced grief as well as reading letters from people who have experienced loss.

In this episode I explain who I am, my journey and experience with cancer, and why I started this podcast. Some time ago, my grandpa, or Papa, who was very involved in my life and more like a dad to me, passed away. I tell about how I grew close to Papa when I got to travel across the country with him to assist on a genealogy project he was working on with loved ones who had passed away, and then what happened to him and my experience with grief.
When I started bonding with my papa 5:35
When things began to turn 12:04
Papa’s passing 14:42
The experience that changed me 19:04
Learning about cremation jewelry and losing my cat, Brother 26:46
Starting Cherished Emblems 31:50
“It was like a small way for me to really show Papa the respect and love that I had for him. That I was able to take his body and be able to show it the respect that it deserved. To show that this man had meant so much to me and to so many people. I just knew that I wanted to be involved in helping people as they were going through this process that I was experiencing for the first time in my life.” 22:42

On our last episode which was part 1 of Paul and Mel's story, we talked about how his father Mel grew up, the 2 marriages he had prior to him marrying Paul's mom, and what it was like for Paul to spend his childhood growing up with an irrational dad until his parents divorced when he was just becoming a teenager.
In Part 2 we will talk about what it was like for Paul as an adult and experiencing his reconnection with his dad as Mel's health and mental state continued to decline. Paul shares some rather unique ideas his dad had up to the time that he passed. Paul also reflects on what he felt when his dad ultimately did pass on.
Mel’s mental status declines 9:40
His unique beliefs 14:34
Mel’s enemies 20:31
Getting closer to Paul 29:52
Connecting 36:34
Losing control in his life 49:08
Reaching the end of his life 53:25
Mel’s humorous side 67:09
Forgiving Mel 73:58
“When I came to understand him as a person that was doing the best that he could with the hand of cards that he’d been dealt, a lot changed. I still feel like that brings up a lot of emotion for me, but I think that any of us could take an outside view of any other person and judge them for their failures and try to hold their feet to the fire for all the mistakes they have made, which is not a very charitable interpretation, and I don’t think it helps our hearts to heal from whatever was hard.” 57:37

In this episode I talk to Rob Bonham, who tells me the story of his grandfather, Robert, and the relationship they developed throughout his life. Robert helped fill the role that Rob’s dad was unable to fill anymore after his health started going downhill. He tells about the bond that grew between them, and then what it was like when his grandpa’s health started failing him. Something that made his passing easier for Rob was the fact that so many people seemed to respect Robert and honor him, which has inspired Rob to want to adopt that same humble lifestyle of respecting others.
Funny story 2:08
About Rob’s grandpa, Robert 4:38
Connecting with grandpa 10:14
When he started getting sick 14:34
The last time they saw each other 19:19
Words of wisdom 26:37
“I remember the funeral and it being very somber, yet seeing my grandfather’s golf buddies and people he had worked with come out, and I had never met them before. I didn’t know who these people were, they didn’t owe anything to our family to be out there, but that was just the kind of guy my grandpa was. People like him. He was a very likeable guy and he left a good impact on people.” 21:00

Today I interviewed Gary Laderman, an Associate Professor of American Religious History and Culture at Emory University and the author of The Sacred Remains: American Attitudes Toward Death, 1799-1883. We talk about the funeral industry, how it works, and how it’s been evolving over time. Death is very prominent in our modern culture and people are becoming more and more interested in this final stage of life, especially with the recent pandemic that we all have fought through. Gary shares his wisdom on the different aspects of death and how we can approach it, becoming a little more comfortable talking about it.
Cremation jewelry 4:52
Traditional embalming vs. other types of body disposal 9:22
Talking about death and finding it in culture 16:30
Approaching grief 17:12
Unique ways of mourning 24:40
Cherished Emblems 32:30
“Grief of course is there, but it’s not really prominent so much, and I think for me that has to do with it being a field being so dominated by psychology and my own kind of mindset and approach, being more historical and cultural and social, which are relevant in terms of grief. Again I think some of it’s going to depend on your mindset going in.” 18:21