|
A member
of the association of Death Education & Counseling, The
American Academy of Bereavement, and the National Association
of Social workers, Louise Stanger is a faculty member in the
School of Social Work at San Diego State University. A licensed
clinical social worker in the state of California, Louise
received her bachelor's degree in English literature from
the University of Pittsburgh, her Masters in Social Work from
San Diego State College, and her doctoral degree in Educational
Leadership from the University of San Diego.
Louise has been the recipient of national, state, and local
awards. Named the Outstanding Undergraduate Faculty in both
1999 and 1994, she has also been San Diego State University's
Faculty Homecoming Dedicatee, as well as the recipient of
San Diego County's Outstanding Educator Award. The San Diego
Business Journal recognized her as one of the "TOP Women
Who MEAN BUSINESS."
Louise, a third generation widow, lives in San Diego, California
with her new husband, John, and their Chocolate Labrador Retriever,
Brownie. Her three daughters are scattered all over the globe.
Louise's first attempts to explore this topic came in the
form of academic research - a comprehensive look at women
like her mother, her grandmother, and herself; all of whom
had become widowed at an early age. That research project
became the inspiration for book - the voices of the women
she interviewed demanded to be heard beyond the walls of academia.
Armed with a sense of humor, Louise is a frequent speaker
at national conferences and local health organizations. Her
interests in grief and loss, women, and leadership are longstanding.
The contents found on this website are taken from the book
entitled "Good Grief for Widows and their Families"
which she is currently developing.
"It was the morning after Easter. A time of celebration,
of renewal. Everyone was well rested, having spent the weekend
lounging in the warmth of the desert. All of us felt deliciously
spoiled. The girls gladly left for school, eager to be reunited
with friends, fresh to share their spring break adventures.
We were not our hurried selves. We talked. I know not of what-we
hugged-we said goodbye. I traveled off to the University to
teach. He went off to his favorite places-his dental office
and the Price Club. We never spoke again. Ten hours later
I would discover his car fishtailed on the freeway. The car
had glided to a gentle stop. A policeman stood in the middle
of the freeway directing me to the right shoulder of the road.
My husband of 23 years, my college friend was dead. He was
48 years old. I was 44. His death became the catalyst, which
catapulted me into a new way of being. Nothing would ever
be the same." Louise Stanger
Louise is available for speaking engagements. To contact
Louise for speaking engagements or to share your story with
Louise, please email her at: widowsource@yahoo.com
or use the contact
form
|
