This passionate Contributing Cardie introduced herself in March of 2021 with, “Dear Cardthartic, I just gotta say, I am so glad I found you!! The cards are amazing and so on point! As a grief educator, I find your sympathy cards wonderfully unique.”
Her joyful spirit has raised ours as, over the years, Jo-Ann has been great to share her thoughts, feelings, and life experiences. When she read a Cardie Newsletter describing how Contributing Cardie Pamela Salem-O’Hagan keeps adapting to and embracing life with cancer as well as Parkinson’s disease, Jo-Ann wrote, “Reading about beautiful Pam brought tears to my eyes. The word ‘warrior’ comes to mind, because of her unbelievable attitude as she faces such daunting health issues! I can honestly say that would not be me, so I admire her beyond any words that I could ever express! Please tell her that I am praying for her and what an inspiration — personally and professionally — she is to me, a complete stranger.”
She shared, “My brother was 59 when he died of cancer in 2015, and he never lost his sense of humor. How fortunate we are to have such special people in our lives, aren’t we? And because he loved life so much and wanted to live to be a grandfather — which he never had the chance to do — you will never hear me complain about having a birthday and/or aging! In fact, I now say, ‘I get to have a birthday!’”
We could not resist asking this font of wisdom on grief, “If you’d care to share any tips you may have for what one might pen in a grief support card and/or thoughts on ‘do and don’t,’ we will most certainly welcome that from you. To which she said, “Oh, what the sick and dying can teach us, if only we pay attention!” And then she kindly turned around and offered, “I have over 30 years of material from seminars, books, articles, etc. that I have gathered about loss and grief, death and dying. It will be hard to narrow it down, but I will start as I am honored that you would ask for my input!”
In July of 2023, Jo-Ann felt comfortable sharing, “My daughter, Jami, is now the mother of two amazing daughters, but the road to parenthood was fraught with disappointment and loss. After five years of infertility struggles, she finally gave birth to a perfect baby girl … born still.
“All sorts of tests were run on the baby, Jami, and her husband, and no cause was ever found. Since she is now an expert on infertility, as well as an amazing writer and professional photographer, I keep telling her she should write a book! I was just wondering, do you have cards that deal with this painful subject? P.S. Jami named her first of two healthy daughters ‘Wren.’ Why that name? Because, after the darkest nights, the songbird still sings in the morning.”
While we have not been able to create a card that addresses the challenges, frustration, and grief Jami faced before bringing her daughters into the world, Jo-Ann’s clear love and admiration for her daughter was so powerful, her story was so touching, and how she channeled her own sadness was so moving that we were inspired to create the lovely wren Meanings of Life card. On its back reads, “Jo-Ann Saunders wrote its message for daughter Jami and her Wren.”
Message by Jo-Ann
This passionate Contributing Cardie introduced herself in March of 2021 with, “Dear Cardthartic, I just gotta say, I am so glad I found you!! The cards are amazing and so on point! As a grief educator, I find your sympathy cards wonderfully unique.”
Her joyful spirit has raised ours as, over the years, Jo-Ann has been great to share her thoughts, feelings, and life experiences. When she read a Cardie Newsletter describing how Contributing Cardie Pamela Salem-O’Hagan keeps adapting to and embracing life with cancer as well as Parkinson’s disease, Jo-Ann wrote, “Reading about beautiful Pam brought tears to my eyes. The word ‘warrior’ comes to mind, because of her unbelievable attitude as she faces such daunting health issues! I can honestly say that would not be me, so I admire her beyond any words that I could ever express! Please tell her that I am praying for her and what an inspiration — personally and professionally — she is to me, a complete stranger.”
She shared, “My brother was 59 when he died of cancer in 2015, and he never lost his sense of humor. How fortunate we are to have such special people in our lives, aren’t we? And because he loved life so much and wanted to live to be a grandfather — which he never had the chance to do — you will never hear me complain about having a birthday and/or aging! In fact, I now say, ‘I get to have a birthday!’”
We could not resist asking this font of wisdom on grief, “If you’d care to share any tips you may have for what one might pen in a grief support card and/or thoughts on ‘do and don’t,’ we will most certainly welcome that from you. To which she said, “Oh, what the sick and dying can teach us, if only we pay attention!” And then she kindly turned around and offered, “I have over 30 years of material from seminars, books, articles, etc. that I have gathered about loss and grief, death and dying. It will be hard to narrow it down, but I will start as I am honored that you would ask for my input!”
In July of 2023, Jo-Ann felt comfortable sharing, “My daughter, Jami, is now the mother of two amazing daughters, but the road to parenthood was fraught with disappointment and loss. After five years of infertility struggles, she finally gave birth to a perfect baby girl … born still.
“All sorts of tests were run on the baby, Jami, and her husband, and no cause was ever found. Since she is now an expert on infertility, as well as an amazing writer and professional photographer, I keep telling her she should write a book! I was just wondering, do you have cards that deal with this painful subject? P.S. Jami named her first of two healthy daughters ‘Wren.’ Why that name? Because, after the darkest nights, the songbird still sings in the morning.”
While we have not been able to create a card that addresses the challenges, frustration, and grief Jami faced before bringing her daughters into the world, Jo-Ann’s clear love and admiration for her daughter was so powerful, her story was so touching, and how she channeled her own sadness was so moving that we were inspired to create the lovely wren Meanings of Life card. On its back reads, “Jo-Ann Saunders wrote its message for daughter Jami and her Wren.”
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