The Disenfranchised: Stories of Life and Grief When an Ex-Spouse Dies offers an unprecedented anthology of never-before-published, first-person life histories by ex-spouses whose grief has endured as disenfranchised: socially unacknowledged, untold, and unrecognised. Each story of disenfranchised grief is fiercely honest and courageously made public. This anthology has no parallels in current texts, academic literature or mainstream publications. Contributors present personal histories, revealing that the dimensions of disenfranchised grief are as individual as the writers who have endured this neglected aspect of grief and bereavement. In many narratives, the healing power of their creative processes through art and poetry is further revealed. The anthology is compiled and edited by Peggy Sapphire, MS (Guidance and Counseling), a writer living in Vermont. Over the span of five years, through phone conversations and written communications, Ms. Sapphire established trusting relationships with the contributors, who, though choosing to submit their work, often struggled with reluctance, even dread, at revisiting previously private events in their lives and finally committing their stories to paper, and ultimately to publication. Each narrative is accompanied by a clinical commentary, written by Shirley Scott, MS, certified Thanatologist, which provides readers, whether academic, practitioner, student, or lay, with reflections on the issues and patterns of disenfranchised grief, as reflected by each narrative. Included in each commentary are bibliographic references for further and advanced study. The contributors represent an extraordinary range of professional achievements and academic credentials--well-published writers, poets, working artists, educators, academics, mental health practitioners, and health professionals.

Contributors Acknowledgments and DedicationsPeggy Sapphire and Shirley ScottForewordDarcy L. Harris, Ph.D. FTEditors PrefacePeggy Sapphire, MS CounselorPreface to CommentariesShirley Scott, RN, MS, CT, Grief CounselorIntroductionDr. Kenneth Doka, Ph.D. GerontologistSECTION 1 Moving Toward ForgivenessCHAPTER 1 HaroldRosemary WymanCHAPTER 2 Rubber ManAnne BowerCHAPTER 3 Selected SlidesElizabeth KerlikowskeCHAPTER 4 Never Given a NameJames McGrathSECTION 2 "He's Dead and I'm Not"CHAPTER 5 When Pawpaw's Spearmint Went to HeavenLinde Grace WhiteCHAPTER 6 The Absence of . . .Barbara TraynorCHAPTER 7 He's Dead and Im NotAnonymousCHAPTER 8 Missing YouJean GantCHAPTER 9 The RideKristina GreySECTION 3. A Change of WorldsCHAPTER 10 Barking at the KnocksJ. Bradley BrandtsCHAPTER 11 Un-grieving a DeathMMCHAPTER 12 Chronic and AcuteMarion CohenCHAPTER 13 The World Cracking Open or Living Atop a Cultural, Emotional San Andreas FaultDeborah Dashow RuthCHAPTER 14 Then, a Deep SilenceKorkut OnaranSECTION 4 As the Dust SettlesCHAPTER 15 Geography of a MarriageBarbara HoffmanCHAPTER 16 JakeDenise HandlonCHAPTER 17 How I SurvivedPenelope Scambly SchottCHAPTER 18 PostmortemJoyce LombardCHAPTER 19 Ex-humation: Digging Up the PastMary Kolada ScottAfterwordPeggy SapphireAPPENDIXGrief Reactions to the Death of a Divorced SpouseFurther ReadingsContributorsBiographiesSapphire, Doka, ScottIndex