Tag: Young Widowhood

The Travis Manion Foundation – Finding Healing Through Service to Others (Ep. 6)

~ The Widow Empowerment Project

What if your deepest pain could be transformed into your life’s greatest purpose?

Losing a life partner is a profound and disorienting experience that can leave one grappling with feelings of intense anger and sadness.  Those emotions can create a paralysis that prevents us from moving forward or be the catalyst that forces us to reevaluate our entire lives.  

In this episode of the Widow Empowerment Project, host Andy Dziedzic welcomes Stephany Richards – a widow who found healing through volunteer service.  After losing her husband at age 24, Stephany made the decision to channel her anger and sadness into action by participating in an expedition to Alaska. This experience helped her connect with other members of the widowed community and became a turning point when she realized that beauty and loss could coexist together. This newfound clarity led her to engage with the Travis Manion Foundation (TMF), a service-driven nonprofit focused on community improvement.

Through therapy and her volunteer work with Travis Manion Foundation, Stephany found a way to turn her grief into meaningful action. Her journey illustrates how serving others can transform pain into a powerful source of purpose and connection.

Andy and Stephany discuss:

  • The emotional aftermath of losing a spouse and its impact on one’s life and identity
  • Stephany’s personal journey from profound grief and anger to finding solace in community and service
  • How channeling anger and loss into community involvement aids in emotional recovery
  • The role of the Travis Manion Foundation in fostering healing through volunteer work
  • The foundation’s four major initiatives – Operation Legacy projects that support various national observances and community needs
  • Practical advice on finding a support system and the importance of taking control of one’s healing journey

 

Resources:

Get in Touch with the Travis Manion Foundation

Get in Touch with the Widow Empowerment Project

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An Unexpected Loss: Finding Support as a Gold Star Spouse, with Lauren Tella (Ep. 5)

~ The Widow Empowerment Project

The concept of widowhood seems like something only those in their twilight years should face. 

Whenever this unexpected change might happen – earlier in life, or later – it can leave a person feeling lost, shocked and without direction. Thankfully, guidance exists for those who need it and the loved ones who support them.

Join Andy Dziedzic as he sits down with Lauren Tella, Accredited Financial Counselor® and Gold Star Spouse, to explore the importance of logistical and financial preparedness for the possibility of losing a life partner. Lauren shares her personal journey as a military spouse who unexpectedly became a member of the widowed community at a very young age, and she offers practical guidance on how to best prepare for this life-changing event.  Join the conversation as Andy and Lauren strategize how to best self-advocate (amidst chaos) in the aftermath of becoming a widow.

Andy and Lauren discuss: 

  • The critical elements of effective estate planning and financial preparedness for married couples, elements which often apply to unmarried individuals, parents, and even children
  • Challenges and support systems available specifically to military spouses facing loss
  • Open financial communication and the importance of knowing where essential documents and credentials are stored
  • Personal experiences with navigating financial and legal aspects post-loss, and practical advice for being your own best advocate
  • And more

 

Resources

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About Lauren 

Lauren Tella has over 17 years of experience in nonprofit and government sectors, specializing in financial and work-life education for the military community.  Currently an Education Services Facilitator with , she collaborates with government partners, CNIC, and local military commands to deliver quality-of-life programs.

With credentials including a Master’s in Management & Leadership, Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC), and Syracuse University-certified Project Management professional, Lauren adeptly manages projects, resources, and budgets. Her effective communication skills, honed as a public speaker, allow her to deliver impactful messages to diverse audiences. 

 

The Widow Empowerment Project dedicates this episode to SSG James Christen

Born in Sacramento CA, James M. Christen enlisted in the Army at 17 after graduation from Del Oro High School in 2000. He completed basic training and airborne school  at Ft. Moore (formally Ft. Benning) and reported to 2/325th at Ft. Liberty (formerly Ft. Bragg). He deployed to Iraq in 2003 with 2/325, again with 11th ACR out of Ft. Irwin in 2005. James spent 15 months in the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan with 2/503rd out of Vicenza IT in 2007 and returned to Afghanistan in 2011 with 2/27th out of Schofield Barracks. 

James is remembered for his cutting humor and quick wit. He could captivate a room with his vivid storytelling and musings. He had a knack for learning languages, picking up Italian quickly while living in Vicenza and was focused on learning Pashto to improve his interactions with the local population while deployed in Afghanistan. James had a deep love and respect for his country, his family, and his fellow brothers in uniform. He loved classic American muscle cars and rock & roll music. 

He died on July 19, 2011 in Kunar Province, Afghanistan after his vehicle was struck by an IED; he died instantly.

He is survived by his wife, Lauren. James was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery.

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