I’m Karen Sibal

My story is one of love, loss, and resilience. Losing six family members since 2020 has deeply shaped my grief journey. These experiences, though heartrending, have taught me the power of facing grief with courage and compassion. I’ve emerged stronger, driven to share the light of hope and healing with others navigating the shadowy paths of loss.

When my father passed away in 2023 at the age of 87, there was a gaping void in my life – a black hole. Sure, the shock of him passing away was difficult to bear, but I didn’t have a community that really understood the depth of the pain I felt. Of course, I have friends and family who’ve been a source of incredible support. Many of them could relate having lost a parent too. But, often, I found myself looking for support from someone detached from my family dynamics – someone who could give me impartial, compassionate and practical support and guidance. I tried grief therapy but I’ll be honest: it was not easy finding a therapist who clicked with me. Therapy helped me in the moment, and I was grateful to have an hour to share my deepest pain with someone who just listened. But it wasn’t enough. I struggled along, without support when I needed it the most, like at 2 am when the memories and worries would flood my mind.  

I thought to myself: there has to be a better way.

People who are grieving, just like myself, need access to real help to navigate their loss, and the multitude of implications from it. And it needs to be both affordable, practical and accessible, because all the feelings and issues related to grief have a way of creeping up when you least expect them.

After my father passed away, my mother was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. Navigating her diagnosis as a caregiver added to the shock of losing my father. And it took a severe toll on my health and my childhood complex PTSD resurfaced and became unmanageable.

Mom also lost most of her friend’s circle after dad passed on. It seemed many of her friends had passed away suddenly, or were at the end stages of their lives with their own health issues. As a senior on a fixed income, grief therapy was too expensive for my mother. She became isolated, depressed and her mental health took a turn for the worse.  I found myself struggling to help her. I wished my mom had a supportive network to fall back on, especially at this pivotal time, late in her life.  Our small family seemed to fall apart overnight. 

So, if you’ve lost a parent or a sibling, or if you’re a senior grieving the loss of your spouse, I hope I can help you.

The Seniors Grief Circle aims to connect people grieving at midlife with resources to help manage the pain of losing a loved one, along with practical information on legal and financial matters that need attention post-loss, self-care strategies, tips to manage family conflict, end-of-life decisions and community events. We can also help you find a licensed grief therapist in your area. If you’re located in Ontario, Canada, we can refer you to awesome grief therapists who get it – because they’ve experienced grief first-hand and know how profound the loss can be. 

You’re not alone in navigating your loss or struggles. I feel your pain because I’ve been there too.

 The Seniors Grief Circle is a tribute to my parents. It aims to offer real talk that soothes the soul, and the practical support I wished I had access to on my grief journey. Let’s do this together.