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Accepting Grief And Navigating The Loss Of A Loved One

Kimmie Shelledy and Mike Shelledy on their on their 20th anniversary trip to Cancun, Mexico.
Kimmie Shelledy
Kimmie Shelledy and Mike Shelledy on their 20th anniversary trip to Cancun, Mexico.

The past year has been a time of extraordinary loss, with so many Iowans succumbing to COVID-19.

The loss of a family member is not only a time of grief, but often requires a huge amount of legal and financial paperwork. Grieving is not something that takes a few weeks or months; it’s a journey that we travel for a long time.

On this edition of Talk of Iowa, host Charity Nebbe and her guests explore what it’s like to lose a loved one and talk about the resources a person may need to get through this painful chapter of their life.

Kimmie Shelledy of Norwalk shares the story of her husband’s death in February 2020. Shelledy’s husband, Mike, was 43. Together they had two children, now 15 and 13. They were fortunate enough to be able to hold a gathering and say their goodbyes before the pandemic hit, but it’s been a long and difficult year.

Later in the program, Natalie Lynner, professor of Law at Drake University, explains the mountain of paperwork and legal obligations that follow a death. Diane Eischeid, a licensed mental health therapist in the state of Iowa, talks about grief and her work with people coping with loss.

Guests:

· Kimmie Shelledy, mother
· Diane Eischeid, counselor, licensed mental health therapist in the state of Iowa
· Natalie Lynner, professor of law at Drake University

Charity Nebbe is the host of IPR's Talk of Iowa
Matthew was a producer for IPR's River to River and Talk of Iowa