My Story

I am a native of State College, Pennsylvania, with a B.S. in Business Management from Penn State University and an M.A. in Wellness from the University of Central Florida. I am a certified spiritual director and celebrant, specializing in loss and wholeness. I am also a member of Spiritual Directors International and the Celebrant Foundation and Institute.

As a spiritual director and celebrant, my work includes: creating and officiating at transition ceremonies, such as funerals and remembrance services; presenting educational programs to organizations; developing and leading grief and loss support programs; facilitating group gatherings on topics, such as grief, loss, aging, transitions, forgiveness, spirituality and heart-centered business; meeting with individuals for grief companioning and spiritual direction; and leading individual and group retreats. 

In partnership with Koch Funeral Home, I developed a new program, Helping Grieving Hearts Heal. This program helps and supports individuals as they grieve. Services include Having the Talk of a Lifetime, memorable funeral ceremony creation, remembrance service facilitation, legacy reception coordination, grief companioning and community outreach.  

I am a co-founder of Learning to Live: What's Your Story?, an initiative whose mission is to create educational and conversational opportunities for meaningful intergenerational exchanges on loss, grief, growth and transformation. I helped create HEART - Helping Empty Arms Recover Together, an organization that provides support for individuals who have experienced pregnancy loss, stillbirth, infant death and/or fertility issues. I am also a member of Grief Connection and write a column for Centered magazine. 

In the past, I worked with The American Cancer Society, HMO Florida, Orange County (FL) Public Schools, Wittner Associates, the Center for Organizational Health, La Leche League and the Child and Youth Friendly Initiative. In addition, I am an ordained elder in the State College Presbyterian Church.

I enjoy spending time with my family, jogging and hiking in the woods. My husband, John, and I met at Penn State in 1982. After living in Orlando, Florida, and Yardley, Pennsylvania, we returned to State College in 2005. We have two children, Jessica and James.