Host Bio:

Claire T | Just a few days before starting her junior year of college in August 2014, Claire found out that her mother Kathryn took her own life. Though Claire had known since childhood that her mother struggled with depression and alcoholism, Kathryn's death still came as an immense shock. Because Claire is an only child with a small extended family, the isolation she felt in grieving her beloved mother was particularly pronounced. Six years later, Claire has grown into her grief and finds supporting others on their journey brings her a sense of purpose and helps her honor her late mother (she still misses Kathryn when she hears the ringing of church bells, cooks chicken piccata, or reads Jane Austen). Claire hopes to host a table where tears and laughter are equally welcome; vulnerability and authenticity are givens; and attendees (soon-to-be friends!) can form a community where they may have lacked one previously. Aside from Grief Stuff, Claire is in graduate school to become a high school English teacher, sings in a local choir, and is an avid reader and book recommender. Her current quarantine projects include writing actual handwritten cards to people, watching Lizzie McGuire for the first time since childhood (it holds up!), and perfecting her rendition of Celine Dion's "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" to perform at karaoke when the world reopens.

Meeting Frequency: Biweekly

Time Zone: ET

Table Themes: (Note that none of these are exclusive) parent loss; only children; sudden loss; suicide loss; finding community; finding humor in grief