Still Here
Support, healing and hope for families who have lost a child.
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Remembering Matthew
11/13/2023
Remembering Matthew
EPISODE 16: Jean and David Marandola join Still Here to discuss the loss of their son as well as his struggles with mental illness. Special emphasis is placed on their grief journey along with how they have both found great support from The Compassionate Friends. Compassionate Friends website: Facebook:
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A Guiding Light
10/05/2023
A Guiding Light
EPISODE 15: Kathy Blackburn, a Social Worker with the Interfaith Counseling Center, discusses her work supporting grieving parents. Special emphasis is placed on developing supports, recognizing that people grieve differently, and how counseling can offer valuable insights for those experiencing loss. Compassionate Friends website: Facebook:
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Taylor’s Story
09/09/2023
Taylor’s Story
Taylor’s Story EPISODE 14: Kathi Sullivan discusses the loss of her daughter, Taylor, to an underage drinking incident, as well as how her grief led to action. Significant emphasis is placed on turning tragedy into change, along with detailing supports available to parents who have lost a child due to substance use. Kathi and her husband, NFL Lineman, Chris Sullivan, have become powerful advocates for mental health and substance abuse prevention. Compassionate Friends website: Facebook:
/episode/index/show/41ecadfd-ce58-4f16-aa60-ec4af8fbfe14/id/27985710
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FRIENDS WAY
08/04/2023
FRIENDS WAY
EPISODE 13: Ryan Loiselle, LICSW, and Program Director for FRIENDS WAY, discusses the organization’s efforts addressing children grieving the loss of a significant person in their lives. Special emphasis is placed on the effectiveness of group discussions as well as how young people grieve. Finally, FRIENDS WAY also provides guidance for adults who are supporting children following a major loss. Compassionate Friends website: Facebook: Rhode Island’s only bereavement center dedicated to serving children and teens, ages three to eighteen, and their families.
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Debbie’s Story
07/05/2023
Debbie’s Story
Host, Bob Houghtaling with Mary Byrne EPISODE 12: Mary Byrne discusses her beloved daughter, Debbie, who struggled through years of substance abuse after being sexually assaulted as a child. Special emphasis is placed on how Mary has coped with her daughter’s loss by being an advocate for abuse victims as well as the importance of seeking mental health supports. Compassionate Friends website: Facebook:
/episode/index/show/41ecadfd-ce58-4f16-aa60-ec4af8fbfe14/id/27372615
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Thinking of Kory
06/01/2023
Thinking of Kory
EPISODE 11: Susan and Karl Jeschke join Still Here to share insights about the life and passing of their son, Kory. Emphasis is placed on moments spent together, coping with grief, and special considerations necessary to support Kory during his lifetime. Compassionate Friends website: Facebook:
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An Open Discussion
05/02/2023
An Open Discussion
EPISODE 10: Leigh Reposa, from RI Student Assistance Services, discusses her work educating/training youth and adults about suicide. Special emphasis is placed on causal factors, supports and creating awareness about death by suicide. Compassionate Friends website: Facebook: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention -
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A Shining Light
04/04/2023
A Shining Light
EPISODE 9: Tina Saker joins Still Here and discusses how her daughter, Allie, continues to be missed and felt every day. Special emphasis is placed on coping with grief as well as Allie’s ability to light up a room with her magnetic personality. Compassionate Friends website: Facebook:
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A Journey Through Grief
03/09/2023
A Journey Through Grief
EPISODE 8: Ann Boulet discusses how the loss of her husband led to a journey and the writing of After Winter Comes Spring. Special emphasis is placed on how each individual has a unique grieving experience as well as how death is a topic which many have difficulty speaking of. Website: Compassionate Friends Website: Facebook:
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Blue Skies
02/02/2023
Blue Skies
EPISODE 7: Tom Flanagan discusses the loss of his son and how he (Alex), although capable of lighting up a room, suffered from overwhelming anxiety. Special emphasis is placed on exploring ways to support others who are experiencing their children’s mental health challenges. email: Compassionate Friends website: Facebook:
/episode/index/show/41ecadfd-ce58-4f16-aa60-ec4af8fbfe14/id/25808445
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Reflections of Tori
01/02/2023
Reflections of Tori
EPISODE 6: Cathy Andreozzi joins Still Here to discuss how Tori Lynn, her daughter, served as an inspiration. Tori was struck by a car driven by an impaired driver when she was a child – significantly altering opportunities for the future. Nineteen years later, this once vibrant young person, passed due to complications brought on by the accident. All the while Cathy was by her side. Special emphasis is placed on impaired driving, grieving and a foundation designed to ‘pay it forward’. The Compassionate Friends Website: Facebook:
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Grief Has Been the Hardest Job
12/01/2022
Grief Has Been the Hardest Job
EPISODE 5: Sheila Capasso visits Still Here to discuss losing her son, Donald, and how his passing continues being felt. Special emphasis is placed on insight gained over 19 years and how The Compassionate Friends has provided significant support. The Compassionate Friends Website: Facebook:
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The Measure of Love
11/02/2022
The Measure of Love
EPISODE 4: Beth Adamo visits Still Here to discuss the loss of her 19-month-old daughter, Natalie, to Sudden Unexpected Death in Childhood (SUDC). Special emphasis is placed on her efforts to help others, who are grieving, as well as raising two wonderful children. Beth also supports The Compassionate Friends through her work on the organization’s website and newsletter. The Compassionate FriendsWebsite: Facebook:
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A Mother-Daughter Friendship
10/01/2022
A Mother-Daughter Friendship
EPISODE 3: Lisa DiPalma and her daughter, Christina, join Still Here to discuss the impact losing Bella had on their lives. Special emphasis is placed on how Christina supported her parents while experiencing significant grief herself. Both sought support through counseling and/or The Compassionate Friends. Lisa and Christina have gone on to create a beautiful mother-daughter friendship that is inspirational. Website: Facebook:
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A Supportive Place
09/01/2022
A Supportive Place
EPISODE 2: Kevin Sbardella visits Still Here to discuss how The Compassionate Friends have helped him after the loss of his daughter, Angela. Special emphasis is placed on creating supports and how he attempts to help others who have lost a child. The Compassionate Friends website: Facebook:
/episode/index/show/41ecadfd-ce58-4f16-aa60-ec4af8fbfe14/id/24237972
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Needed Support
08/01/2022
Needed Support
Still Here Podcast Host, Bob Houghtaling – Episode 1 with Lucille Valliere & Linda Chase Needed Support Still Here, a Podcast highlighting The Compassionate Friends, begins its ongoing series of episodes with Lucille Valliere and Linda Chase. Bob Houghtaling leads a discussion that highlights the organization’s attempts to support family members grieving the loss of a child (no matter the age). Stay tuned for future programs which will detail the incredible work done by The Compassionate Friends. Website: Facebook:
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