Our Shared Experience Unites Us
We stand in the power of possibility in love with purpose through supportive values.
Respect: Honoring every individual's unique journey through loss, with compassion and dignity.
Authenticity: Creating genuine, transparent connections that foster healing and community.
Vitality: Shifting the focus from loss to life, nurturing wellness and personal growth through grief.
Empathy: Understanding and supporting others' pain, creating a space for shared healing and strength.
Working alongside grief and bereavement experts, prioritizing wellness, and engaging in the hard work of grief, I felt a deep calling to help other bereaved mothers rebuild their lives after loss. Early on, I noticed a gap: while support is often available immediately after loss, such as in the hospital where grief often begins, those resources don’t endure or evolve to meet the ongoing needs of a grieving mother's heart.
In my experience, and through conversations with fellow grieving mothers, I recognized a profound need for something beyond immediate grief resources—a next step for those living with grief long after the world seems to have moved on. This understanding led me to become a certified Life Coach through the Institute of Life Coach Training, specializing in grief and bereavement.
As a grief wellness coach, I launched an online grief support program, offering group coaching centered on holistic wellness. This initiative provided a safe, nurturing space for grievers to heal, connect, and find growth, which quickly inspired the vision for hosting in-person events that unite grievers in meaningful and transformative ways.
Out of this vision, Bereaved Together was born, with a mission to foster a culture of constructive community support. Our purpose is to create supportive opportunities for grieving mothers to honor their children's' lives by honoring their own - heart, mind, body, and soul.
It’s an incredible privilege to be welcomed into the sacred spaces of grief and healing. Through Bereaved Together, I’m honored to share my daughter Ari’s life and legacy with this extraordinary community—our BRAVE family. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to co-create a space where Ari’s BRAVE legacy thrives, where mission and vision are realized, and where the bereaved can rediscover purpose and possibility in their lives.
With big, BRAVE dreams, I look forward with hope and excitement to all that lies ahead!
Kirstie brings exceptional organizational skills and a compassionate heart to our organization. She provides administrative support for the Primary Care, Orthopedic, and Women’s Health service lines, managing calendars, scheduling, meeting preparation, and communication with physicians and leaders. Kirstie also oversees onboarding communication and resources for new physicians and Advanced Practice Providers, maintains service line rosters, and updates all communication distribution lists.
After losing her daughter in 2019, Kirstie was deeply inspired by the women who vulnerably shared their stories and offered hope without expecting anything in return. Their kindness motivated her to bring meaning to her journey by offering the same compassion to others. While society has made progress in speaking openly about child loss, it can still feel isolating. Kirstie is honored to contribute to Bereaved Together by creating a space where bereaved mothers feel supported, heard, validated, and prayed for.
In her free time, Kirstie enjoys sewing and crafting memory bears from special fabrics that honor lost loved ones or celebrate children who have grown up. She also loves camping, walking, reading, gardening, and traveling. Her family treasures their annual trips to Disney World, a tradition close to their hearts.
Denise brings experience and expertise to the board, drawn from her diverse professional background. She began her career in merchandising at Mattel, where she honed her organizational and creative skills, and later served over a decade with the U.S. Department of Labor, further developing her abilities in administration and coordination. Her professional journey reflects a strong commitment to precision, problem-solving, and supporting impactful initiatives, all of which she now channels into her role with Bereaved Together.
Denise’s connection to the mission of Bereaved Together is deeply personal. After the loss of her granddaughter, Ari, she witnessed the immense need for support and resources for grieving families. This experience fueled her passion for assisting our founder, creating spaces where bereaved mothers can feel seen, heard, and welcomed. She is dedicated to helping the organization provide the healing community and encouragement grieving mothers need to navigate grief and life.
In her free time, Denise enjoys immersing herself in nature, attending local theater productions, and cherishing moments with her children and grandchildren. Whether hiking a scenic trail or enjoying a family gathering, she finds joy in meaningful connections and experiences that celebrate life’s beauty.
Angela brings over 20 years of experience to her role as an Operations Analyst in the Health Information Management (HIM) department at Froedtert Health, where she recently celebrated 21 years of service. In addition, she has spent the past five years as an online health and wellness coach, finding personal healing and fulfillment by empowering others and fostering a supportive wellness community. Her dedication to helping others reflects her unwavering commitment to making a positive impact both personally and professionally.
The mission of Bereaved Together holds a special place in Angela’s heart. After losing her son, she spent over two years feeling stuck and isolated in her grief. Attending our Bereaved Mother’s Conference was a turning point, helping her find her voice and inspiring her to get involved. Angela is now passionate about supporting grieving mothers, sharing the strength and compassion she received from this community, ensuring no one feels alone.
In her free time, Angela enjoys traveling with her husband, Friday night dinners with friends, and spontaneous breakfast dates with her living child. She loves exploring the outdoors and new places. At home, her two beloved Yorkies bring energy, love, and comfort to her family, even on the hardest days, offering constant reminders of joy and resilience.
Nicole brings a wealth of experience in marketing and business, having worked with small, medium, and large companies. Her expertise spans strategy development, content creation, event planning, social media management, and meticulous planning—skills she uses to drive impactful initiatives and meaningful connections.
Nicole is deeply committed to the mission of
Bereaved Together stemming from her own life experiences with miscarriage. This journey has shaped her perspective, fostering a deeper understanding of connection, faith, hope, and love. Nicole is passionate about raising awareness and supporting women navigating this path, many enduring it silently.
In her free time, Nicole enjoys exploring new activities, embracing the joy of swimming, engaging in creative arts, and immersing herself in nature through gardening and hiking. She is also inspired by learning and cultural experiences that broaden her horizons and feed her curiosity
Sarah brings 24 years of experience as a middle school physical education teacher and coach of several sports in the Greendale School District. Passionate about lifelong fitness, she helps students discover activities they enjoy, emphasizing intentional movement to build self-esteem, confidence, and self-worth. As a certified youth fitness specialist, she finds joy in watching her students grow and embrace physical activity.
In 2014, Sarah and her family experienced the devastating loss of their son, Ty, to stillbirth at 40 weeks. Sarah strives everyday to live a life that honors his memory and makes him proud. Creating Ty’s legacy has taken many forms, and Sarah believes the mission of Bereaved Together provides a meaningful way to ensure that his spirit lives on. Although Ty is not physically present, she feels his spirit working through her, driving her to help others see they are not alone. She hopes that by sharing her journey, others will see themselves and feel inspired to live life fully, even while carrying the weight of loss.
Sarah enjoys playing golf with her husband and their two living sons, reading, going to concerts, working out, playing softball, and walking their beloved pittie, Frida. She also treasures traveling and spending time with her close friends, often sharing drinks on patios, porches, or anywhere they can connect. Her friends' love and acceptance for who she truly is bring her great joy.