In the not-so-distant past, published writers were a rarity in the
Quad-Cities area. Now, their numbers and output are impressive.
'From Eulogy to Joy'
Jo Seier-Doofe of Davenport and her daughter, Julie Seier, who now
lives in Chicago, are among about 100 writers telling their personal
stories in "From Eulogy to Joy," compiled by Cynthia Beischel with
Kristina Strom.
The anthology offers support, information and hope to grieving
individuals, and Ms. Seier-Doofe says, "I feel it will prove to be
nearly as helpful as Rabbi Kuschner's 'When Bad Things Happen to Good
People.'"
Bad things certainly have happened to her family. She says, "My
husband and I lost two children in separate drownings nine years apart,
one in Duck Creek and on in the Mississippi. After the second tragedy I spent several years working with the Grief Support Group at
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St. Luke's
Hospital and several more with Divorcing Catholics."
Her contribution to the book, "Anger and Forgiveness: Natural Parts of
Grief," deals with the drowning of 13-year-old Jay in Duck Creek in 1973
and that of another son, Jack, who was pushed off a sea wall into the
Mississippi in 1982. She denied her anger when Jay died, but after the
second tragedy, she realized anger is a natural part of the grieving
experience.
Julie Seier's piece is titled "I Love You, Dad," and it begins, "It
seems as if I realized too late exactly what you mean to me, or did you
know?" She is now working on a novel.
The compiler of the anthology, who lives in Cincinnati, says the
writers have created a support system for all who read the book, and the
Web site www.celestialperspectives.com/fromeulogytojoy allows ongoing
dialog between the contributors and the book's readers. "From Eulogy to
Joy" is available from bn.com, (Barnes & Noble), borders.com, amazon.com
or bookstores.
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