Mourning Breaks

04/16/2026

Patti Broadfoot brings a wealth of expertise to her role as a Registered Social Worker in private practice. As an author, death doula, speaker, and educator,...

04/16/2026

04/15/2026

Mourning Reflection…

Grieving & The Audacity of Spring 💛

“Spring can feel starkly contrary to the realities of our experience, the realities of mourning. Spring can bring mounting pressure to behave in ways that do not match our internal barometers. The changing season can create a heightened sensation of being left behind while those around you become more active, productive, cheerful, energetic. Spring can be a deeply disorienting experience for many of us.”

Read more:🌼
https://www.mourningbreaks.ca/mourning-reflections

(Sharing this post again...another tender heart in our Mourning Breaks community asked that I re-post it as they found it supportive last spring and wanted me to share it with you.)🥹

Thinking of you, as always.
💙🩵

04/13/2026

Now that spring has finally arrived, I’m wondering…how is your heart holding up?

Spring can hold so many conflicting, confusing emotions in grief. If you’re experiencing some wobbliness this season you might find this reflection supportive: The Audacity of Spring 🌼 https://www.mourningbreaks.ca/mourning-reflections

It’s not easy, I know. There are so many reasons to be grieving in this world right now on top of our own individual losses, too.❤️‍🩹

If you’re considering reaching out for support as you navigate the tender landscape of your life after loss, if you’re learning how to live with a significant pending loss or disruption that is bringing grief and uncertainty to your days, if the state of this world is a weight you can no longer hold alone, I invite you to connect to schedule a FREE 30-minute, no-obligation conversation (telephone or online) to explore whether Mourning Breaks might be the soft landing place you need right now.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Although our practice is currently full, you are invited to reach out to be added to our WAITLIST to begin in May and June. I will continue to offer FREE 30-minute consultations in the meantime to facilitate your exploration of suitable support options.

IN-PERSON counselling sessions are available Tuesdays and Thursdays, and alternating Saturdays each month.

ONLINE, TELEPHONE (Ontario-wide) and local WALK & TALK sessions are also available throughout each week at various times.

Limited evening appointments by request.

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Mourning Breaks Grief Counselling & Support “Where are the rules of grief written, and who do we offend when we write our own?”~Sally Britton

Mourning Breaks is a place for you to feel—and express all that you feel—without judgement or expectation. A place to feel supported, heard; to understand and safely explore the various impacts of significant disruptive change and loss, and to find ways to integrate these losses into your world, gently, at your own pace.

I know this isn’t easy.

You don’t have to do it alone.

See link to website in bio for more information.

04/12/2026

Excellent book recommendations to support children in their grief. 💛

04/12/2026

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04/10/2026

Mourning Reflection…

Most people aren’t aware that Claudia Evart is the founder of the Siblings Day Foundation (U.S.) and of National Siblings Day. She advocated for this day to highlight the importance of sibling relationships, and to honour her own deceased siblings, Lisette and Alan. Siblings Day falls on April 10th, Lisette’s birthday.

Siblings are often referred to as the forgotten mourners and their grief is often minimized, overlooked, disenfranchised.

It’s interesting, really, when you consider that it is often the longest, and one of the most intimate relationships we have in our entire lifetime.

We become the sole memory keepers of a lifetime of shared sibling experiences, however long that lifetime was. A weighty reality.

In this current season of my life now as the sole/soul caregiver to our parents I feel the heartache and yearning deeply.

The missing is forever.

If you, too, have had to endure the death of your sibling, and a life without them, I understand and send my warmest thoughts to you on this special day that has been set aside just for us.

If you wish to share their name, and/or a memory here with all of us, please feel free! I’m listening.💛

~ Cheryl

Image: A small black and white photo of me with my brother, Mike, wrapped in the arms of our grandmother who cherished our twice-a-year visits as much as we did. I can almost hear the giggles.🥹

04/10/2026

💛

Today belongs to us, too. 🐺Tony.🐺 I am always Tony’s little sister.
Drop their name below. And, if you know a surviving sibling who needs to see this today, send it to them or tag them here.

04/09/2026

This Sunday, Patti Broadfoot RSW - Counselling will be at Forest Lawn Funeral Home & Cemetery if you are looking for a supportive space in community. Patti is there once a month to hold space for you alongside others who are grieving various losses.💛

🌟 JOIN ME THIS SUNDAY 🌟
Join me for a morning of support and connection 🕊️
Navigating grief is never easy, but you don’t have to do it alone. Our monthly in-person grief group is a space where healing can begin through sharing, understanding, and community.
📅 Date: Sunday, April, 2026
📍 Location: Forest Lawn Funeral Home, 1997 Dundas Street East, London
🕙 Time: 10:00 a.m.
Whether you’re coping with the loss of a loved one or simply seeking a compassionate space to be with others who understand, this group offers connection, conversation, and gentle support. Together, we create a place where your feelings are valid and your journey is honoured.
✨ No cost to attend — all are welcome.
Please feel free to share this post with anyone who may benefit from joining us.
Let’s walk this path together. 💛

04/09/2026

A supportive seminar for those impacted by a su***de death is being offered by St. Joseph's Hospice this month. In-person and online options are available.

On Tuesday, April 21st, from 10am-12pm, St. Joseph’s Hospice of London will be hosting the Journey Through Grief: Su***de Loss event. This hybrid session is designed to support individuals who have been impacted by su***de loss. The first half of the session will provide psychoeducational information about su***de loss, while the latter half will provide participants with the opportunity to connect with one another and to share their stories.

The Journey Through Grief series explores a different topic related to grief and loss every month. Since December 2025, Hospice has explored Coping With Loss through the Holidays, Spousal Loss, and Disenfranchised Grief. Future series will explore Pet Loss, MAiD, and the Loss of a Child.

04/06/2026

If you’re grieving, reading through the responses here might bring some much-needed validation, connection, comfort, hope. And if you’re not grieving, but know someone who is, pause here for a few moments…there is a world of wisdom available to guide us when we simply take the time to listen. 💛

Grief can feel isolating, especially when so much of it is invisible or hard to put into words.

Finish this sentence in the comments:
“I wish people knew…”

Read a few responses if you need to feel less alone, and if you’re replying to someone else: lead with care, not advice.

04/06/2026

💛

April 10th is Siblings Day… but for those of us who have lost a sibling, it can feel heavy, isolating, and deeply emotional.

You don’t have to carry that alone.

I’m holding a free space on April 9th from 8–9:30pm EST for siblings who are grieving—a place to be seen, understood, and supported by people who truly get it.

And I want you to know… I only host this free space once a year.

If you’ve been looking for something like this, this is your moment.

Link in bio to register 🤍

https://events.ringcentral.com/events/national-siblings-day-support-group