Elaine Cook
Elaine drew on her experiences and her training as an accountant to help other widows learn about the importance of financial planning and how to cope with loss...
Elaine Cook, Spring Hill, Tenn., lost her husband of 14 years, Stan Cook, to a massive heart attack. Her husband and son had just moved to Tennessee, and Elaine was to follow several days later. Stan died in their son's arms before she arrived. She didn’t know anyone in the community and had to plan a funeral with little money because their insurance policies had lapsed during the move. While grieving and piecing her life back together, Elaine drew on her experiences and her training as an accountant to help other widows learn about the importance of financial planning and how to cope with loss. Her non-profit grief and support organization, Widow2Widow, has grown to more than 400 chapters in 20 states.
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Irma Gonzalez Galvan
After years of hard work, and a menu change, Irma's sandwich shop is now Houston’s legendary "Irma's Mexican Restaurant." Galvan also gives back to her community by hosting fundraising and community events...
Irma Gonzalez Galvan, Houston, Texas, was widowed after her husband, Louis Galvan, had been robbed and murdered. Left alone to care for four children, she was laid off from her job and couldn't make ends meet even after finding new employment. To support her family, Irma made a bold move and opened her own business, a sandwich shop. Her love for her children and the need to secure their future kept her going strong day after day. Eventually, they joined the family business. After years of hard work, and a menu change, Irma's sandwich shop is now Houston’s legendary "Irma's Mexican Restaurant." Galvan also gives back to her community by hosting fundraising and community events at her restaurant. She currently sits on numerous boards including the Downtown District, East End Management District, Culinary Guild, and the Boards of the Greater Houston Visitors & Convention Bureau.
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Julie Jones
She became a representative of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and speaks regularly to organizations across the state. Julie also works with the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission...
Julie Jones, Ft. Worth, Texas, lost her husband Brent Jones just before Christmas in 2003, when they were involved in a head-on collision with a drunk driver. It took Julie months to recover from her serious injuries, during which time she had to care for her twin babies. Fortunately, Brent’s life insurance policy alleviated any immediate money worries. During the emotional and physical healing process, Julie realized that while she couldn't bring Brent back, she could help others. She became a representative of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and speaks regularly to organizations across the state. Julie also works with the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission on legislation to enforce sobriety checkpoints in Texas.
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Debra Kiser
In 2004 she started "Being There, Reaching Out" to offer peer support and conduct memorials for military families in Wisconsin. Debra also volunteers as a Grief Support Volunteer for the Widow's Support Program...
Debra Kiser, Cleveland, Wis., is a U.S. Navy veteran whose husband, Army Staff Sergeant Chuck Kiser, was killed in Iraq in 2004. As she and her family grieved, Debra realized that there was a huge need to help families in the Armed Forces, especially children, with the healing process. The Kisers had life insurance, which allowed Debra to be a stay-at-home mom, and in 2004 she started "Being There, Reaching Out" to offer peer support and conduct memorials for military families in Wisconsin. Debra also volunteers as a Grief Support Volunteer for the Widow's Support Program through the chaplain's office at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.
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Alissa Torres
One of her pieces, "The Reluctant Icon," is a personal essay about being a survivor of 9/11. It has been published in college textbooks and is currently being developed for Spanish theater...
Alissa Torres, New York, N.Y., lost her husband, Eddie Torres, on his second day of work in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. Eight months pregnant, Alissa found solace in writing about her experiences and feelings. Her literary work helped her preserve the legacy of her husband and find her voice. One of her pieces, "The Reluctant Icon," is a personal essay about being a survivor of 9/11. It has been published in college textbooks and is currently being developed for Spanish theater. Today, she continues to use her writing as a way to reach and inspire others. Her first book, American Widow, will be published in 2008.
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