SigMT

SiG MT 41 By Suzanne Waring Photography By Really Montana Photography merica's culture tells us to "buck up" when we are grieving the death of a loved one and to get on with our lives. When, in reality, we are hurting, and it may take a long time before we can move on. Jerri Gertson is a grief support volunteer who has walked that walk herself when her husband died eight years ago. "I was totally not myself for a good eighteen months aer my husband's death. Sometimes I had a difficult time geing through the day. We had done almost everything together. I felt chopped in half, and I didn't know what to think or what to do with myself," she said. Gertson tried several methods to deal with her grief, such as support groups, and nothing seemed to fit her specific needs. As she looks back on it, she thinks that she needed private support sessions. When she was able to look at a new purpose in life, she decided she would become a grief support volunteer. Gertson contacted Steve and Carla Schnider at O'Conner/Schnider Funeral Homes to see if there was a place for her. Six years ago they started providing space at O'Connor's Funeral Home where Jerri could meet with those who sought her out. e Schniders also put her card in the packet given to all individuals who seek their services. A Jerri Gertson: Caring for Those Who Grieve As a volunteer, Jerri Gertson makes a difference by offering one-on-one sessions for those who are grieving.

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