Growing Through Grief
Widowhood as a Catalyst for Spiritual Development
- Counseling, Grief & Mental Health
- Publisher: Wipf and Stock
- Published: 2026
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Publisher's Description
As baby boomers age, and men continue to die earlier than women, navigating the experiences of grief and mourning become more important for an increasing number of widows. This book describes the process of spiritual growth for a woman when she has an active spiritual life before her bereavement; has a supportive network of friends, family, or church group; and refocuses the energy previously devoted to marriage and caretaking into other creative, artistic, and spiritual activities. Attitudes toward grief resolution are changing. More and more people are encouraged to incorporate past relationships into revised identities that acknowledge trauma and grief and seek to grow from these experiences. A discussion of continuing bonds encourages us to change the conversation around grief and bereavement from one with a goal of closure to one of a revised, ongoing relationship with our deceased loved ones. With the support of family and friends, and the grace of God, we can survive, but we must remember that it takes time, it won’t be easy, and some days will be harder than others. If we summon our inner strength, seek out role models, and exercise creativity, we will not only survive but grow through our grief.
Endorsements (4)
“This publication makes a highly original and innovative contribution to grief studies—it explores the sometimes-neglected themes of subjective spiritual intimacy with one who is deceased.”
“Growing Through Grief is a wise, compassionate, and ultimately hopeful exploration of spirituality in widowhood. Buckingham shows us that the death of a spouse or life partner, though painful, can be a pruning for a greater flowering in later life. This book is a valuable guide which will be of help both to widows and to those accompanying them pastorally and spiritually. It is profoundly life- and love-affirming, for which the author deserves our gratitude.”
“In the 1960s spirituality took a democratic turn. Now what was happening in every state of life and in the stages of everyone’s life from childhood to old age was worthy of attention. Margery Buckingham illustrates this welcome development in the field with her fine book written with a spirituality lens about her life as a widow and her study of the lives of other widows.”
“Margery Buckingham brings not only her experience of widowhood but also her background in architecture to this book! The section on visualizing the process of grief resolution is especially interesting and makes an important contribution to the literature on bereavement.”
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