When I found this incredible piece of writing on grief after losing a spouse or life partner, being widowed, I knew there was no need to add anything to it. It speaks for itself: Here’s the author, Dean Koontz:
© 2025 Carol Cassara. All rights reserved. All content on the site is subject to intellectual property rights, contractual or other protection. The intellectual property rights are owned by Carol A. Cassara. No content may be copied, distributed, republished, uploaded, posted or transmitted in any way except with Carol A. Cassara’s express written consent. Permission is granted to send content via email for personal, non-commercial use as long as credit and a link to this website are given. Modification or use of the materials for any other purpose or in any other manner may violate intellectual property rights.
Website Design by BlueTower Technical Inc.
That is a nice quote–grief takes so many forms. Thanks for this work you’re doing.
I thought it was lovely, too. Loss is loss, but one thing the other side has made clear to me repeatedly that it is always about love, all about love and only about love. Oh and learning. But oh, it can be a hard sell.
Perfectly said, Mr. Koontz.
I especially loved this: “. . .the ache is always there, but one day not the emptiness, because to nurture the emptiness, to take solace in it, is to disrespect the gift of life . . .”
Love it!
Wow. Such a beautiful quote. Thanks for sharing.
It was the 2nd anniversary of my Mom’s passing yesterday. So, this was very timely. It is true the ache is always there, but not the emptiness…………..as my heart is full of the happy memories and the loss has helped me grow in many ways that have lifted me to greater appreciation and understanding of life.
This is a great quote by Dean Koontz. It has been years since I lost my mom and although I will always miss her, now I can cherish the memories.
Yes, it will be disrespect of the life if we just remain in our past. Life is all about moving forward.
This is a really sweet quote and there’s so much truth to it. I used to read a ton of Dean Koontz novels!
It is human nature to take the presence of your loved one for granted on a day to day basis. This post around that quote really does help to put things back into perspective and help move people forward through a terrible and traumatic time.
What a wonderful quote to share. Perfect for those grieving. Koontz always knows what to say…. perfectly.
Great quote to think about on a Friday. Nicely worded.
What a beautiful quote – and so true. Yes, it is all about love.
Beautifully said. There’s nothing more powerful than love. This is a great reminder to treasure each moment spent with your loved ones each and every day.
I’M SPEECHLESS. I LOST MY STEPGRANDMOTHER LAST WEEK, SO IT’S TOUGH.
Every word of this quote is truth. It’s all the parts that truly make loving someone the whole experience. Love it!
Such a wonderful quote. Within a year, we lost both of our pugs and it’s been truly heartbreaking. The hole is still huge and the hurt larger than I ever dreamed, and every time I hold one of their pictures close to my heart, I’m so very thankful for the time we spent together here on earth. x
such a beautiful quote. so true and helpful. thanks for sharing and for elaborating more on it!
I feel like love is the answer to many things, not just grief. But unfortunately, a lot of people don’t know that so they end up reacting with fear and hate instead.
What a beautiful quote! Love is the most powerful thing!
Beautifully said! This is such a great resource for those dealing with grief. I will have to share this with others.
I lost my dad to cancer 25 years ago. The pain is still here, but it is no longer emptiness that I feel, but the fond memories of him and his way of spoiling us. I know my dad looks down upon us and as much as I miss him, I know he is in a better place, free from pain and suffering.
“Grief can destroy you –or focus you” Oh how true this is! Grief is one of the hardest emotions to deal with but it can also be the one that makes you the strongest!
I lost my mom this year and it has been difficult. I love these quotes, they are inspirational and uplifting in this tough time.
When my father died, I thought it would be the start of our downfall. I thought, the pillar is gone, nothing good will come out of this. But then, we survived. We only had to think that our Dad would not want to see us that way. It was his memory, not his loss that helped us get back on our feet. It is true – grief can destroy you – or focus you.
What a wonderful quote. My mom died years ago and i thought my life was everything was going to end but I’ve done pretty well. I’ve taken the grief and made it into positive, what would my mom be proud of? wold she want me to suffer or sit and stew? nope!
What an amazing writer. Who knew you could cope so well with his help.
I’ve read this through three times, each one responding differently to Dean Koontz’s words. Isn’t that the best thing about good writing – it prompts us to think and feel and respond and delve into the depths of our understanding and experiences…I may have to blog about this when it settles in!
For me, Uber is safe. Through it we can ask question and get informatotion about the driver. So I think it’s ok.
Two days ago we lost a very good family friend. It’s very sad, she’s so young. But the love will always be remembered.
You are correct. This quote stands alone with no addition needed. Loss is always hard but we always have the remembrance of life to allow us to carry-on.
Love is always the most important part of existense. Love transcends everything. Love is the only meaningful thing that we do and that has lasting consequences.
“Grief can destroy you –or focus you” – I felt this one.
I could not even imagine the pain you have felt losing a parent. I am sure it is like having a part of your soul ripped away from you.
Loss is horrible but you will always have a bank full of memories in your mind that will help make your mum feel closer.
http://www.nmdiaries.com
totally agree with you…. – love is positive !!! all day long
This is a great quote! I was really close to my grandma when she passed away. I cherish the time and memories I had with her.
This is such a beautiful quote. And one I totally agree with 🙂
Louise x
This was such a sweet posting. So much of life is about love. Lots don’t realize that until it’s too late.