Widow Wellness & Connection Experience

Anita's world collapsed when her husband died unexpectedly in 2019 while swimming laps, leaving her to raise four kids (ages 12, 8, 5 & 2) alone.

Soon after, she met another young widow named Mel. Having someone who truly understood the widowhood experience was life-saving. They supported each other with dark humor and cheese — which led to the creation of the Widow We Do Now? Podcast. The podcast and its grief community have grown into something beautiful: real friendships, real experiences, real hope.

Anita uses physical activity to help process the challenges of widowed life. She races mountain bikes and triathlons, and is a physical therapist in her professional life.

Linda became a widow at 54 and suddenly found herself navigating a life she never imagined. Because many of her friends and family had not experienced the loss of a spouse, she felt very alone in her grief. She began doing the work of healing through grief counseling, support groups, journaling, grief classes, yoga, and meditation.

Eventually, Linda moved to New York City to begin a new chapter of her life, where she met and connected with other widows who became an important source of inspiration and support. Her own journey taught her that while grief changes us, there can still be hope, laughter, love, and new possibilities.

Today, Linda is passionate about helping other widows feel less alone. She started a social group in her community to bring widows together and create a space for connection and support. As a teacher, counselor, mentor, and widow advocate, Linda brings warmth, empathy, humor, and honesty to her conversations about grief and rebuilding life after loss.

Linda’s message is that there is no timeline for grief, and grief is never a straight line. It is possible to honor the memories and love we carry while still making new memories, stepping outside our comfort zones, and opening our hearts to what comes next.

Lisa Woolery is an award-winning author, widow advocate, and founder of The Widow’s Comeback, a community dedicated to helping widows navigate grief, rediscover themselves, and build a life they never expected to have.

Lisa became a widow in 2019 when her husband, Eric, died, leaving her to raise their two tweens and navigate a future she could not yet imagine. As she searched for stories of women who had survived widowhood, she realized how deeply she wanted to share her own story and help other women find hope.

She is the author of the award-winning memoir The Widow’s Comeback, along with a grief journal and other resources created specifically for widows. Through her writing, workshops, teaching, and online community, Lisa combines honest storytelling, humor, faith, and practical guidance.

Her message is simple: Your life is not over. Lisa understands how devastating widowhood can feel, but she also knows that hope can return, joy can find its way back in, and it is possible to rebuild a meaningful life while still honoring the love and memories you carry.

Lisa is passionate about helping widows feel less alone and showing them that a comeback is possible. She brings warmth, honesty, humor, and hope to her conversations, offering new widows encouragement for the road ahead and longer-term widows a reminder of how far they have already come.