We’re delighted to host and be in conversation with Mary Mandeville, a beautiful human who’s walked through multiple griefs (death of her son, two siblings, her own cancer, and current health issues related to her decades old cancer). Mary talks about how she has grown her compassion through grief and non-judgement. On this episode Mary shares meaningful ways to support grievers and talks about a river trip she took sponsored by The Dougy Center in Portland, Oregon. She reads a piece about a friend who made a farewell video of herself that was played at her memorial service; the friend very much alive, wearing angel wings.
Mary is a Portland writer who provides chiropractic care for people and their pets. Together with her wife, she cares for a century-old house, tends a flock of city chickens, and is shepherding a couple of really old canines through their golden (though not always shiny) final years. Mary and her wife hold the memory of the son they lost a decade ago to teen suicide and they hold space for the young adult son who is currently testing his metal in a difficult world. Mary’s been published in multiple journals and has a chapbook forthcoming fall 2023 about the death of her son.
