Grief: The Night She Promised to Keep Going episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 15, 2025 · 54 MIN

Grief: The Night She Promised to Keep Going

from The Life Shift | Conversations About Life Before and After · host Matt Gilhooly

This episode includes discussion of suicide loss and grief. Please listen with care. -- What do you do when your life changes in an instant? When Donna Kendrick lost her husband to suicide, she was left standing at a painful crossroads – three young kids, a new house, and a future she could no longer picture. But by the light of a backyard bonfire, she made a vow: this would not be the end of her story. In this honest and deeply human conversation, Donna shares how she navigated grief, rebuilt her life, and created a purpose-filled path for her family. Through heartbreak, she discovered strength she didn’t know she had – and now, she’s helping others do the same. You’ll hear how she: Told her children the truth with compassion and created space for real grief Rebuilt a career that now helps widows and families through financial transition Found love again and blended two families into one sarcastic, supportive household Listen to Donna’s full story and the moment she chose to keep going – with grit, purpose, and heart. Donna Kendrick is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner and founder of Sephton Financial. After losing her first husband suddenly in 2013, Donna navigated widowhood with three young children, inspiring her to support families in transition through financial planning. She is the host of the Wisdom and Wealth Podcast and author of A Guide to Widowhood and A Guide for Blended Families. Donna is also an avid long-distance runner who, through her running group, raises funds for causes such as Safe Harbor, a grief counseling program for children. She lives in Jenkintown, PA, with her husband Jim and their six children. ✨ Don’t leave your loved ones without answers. Get instant access to a complimentary personal document locator and on-demand webinar at sephtonfinancial.com/webinar Resources To listen in on more conversations about pivotal moments that changed lives forever, subscribe to The Life Shift on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars and leave a review! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Access ad-free episodes released two days early: https://patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast Subscribe to The Life Shift Newsletter: https://www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/newsletter/ The Life Shift was just named one of the top 60 life-changing podcasts by FeedSpot: https://podcast.feedspot.com/life_changing_podcasts/ Connect with me: Instagram: @thelifeshiftpodcast Facebook: The Life Shift Podcast YouTube: Watch on YouTube Twitter: @thelifeshiftpod LinkedIn: The Life Shift on LinkedIn Website: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode includes discussion of suicide loss and grief. Please listen with care. -- What do you do when your life changes in an instant? When Donna Kendrick lost her husband to suicide, she was left standing at a painful crossroads – three young kids, a new house, and a future she could no longer picture. But by the light of a backyard bonfire, she made a vow: this would not be the end of her story. In this honest and deeply human conversation, Donna shares how she navigated grief, rebuilt her life, and created a purpose-filled path for her family. Through heartbreak, she discovered strength she didn’t know she had – and now, she’s helping others do the same. You’ll hear how she: Told her children the truth with compassion and created space for real grief Rebuilt a career that now helps widows and families through financial transition Found love again and blended two families into one sarcastic, supportive household Listen to Donna’s full story and the moment she chose to keep going – with grit, purpose, and heart. Donna Kendrick is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner and founder of Sephton Financial. After losing her first husband suddenly in 2013, Donna navigated widowhood with three young children, inspiring her to support families in transition through financial planning. She is the host of the Wisdom and Wealth Podcast and author of A Guide to Widowhood and A Guide for Blended Families. Donna is also an avid long-distance runner who, through her running group, raises funds for causes such as Safe Harbor, a grief counseling program for children. She lives in Jenkintown, PA, with her husband Jim and their six children. ✨ Don’t leave your loved ones without answers. Get instant access to a complimentary personal document locator and on-demand webinar at sephtonfinancial.com/webinar Resources To listen in on more conversations about pivotal moments that changed lives forever, subscribe to The Life Shift on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars and leave a review! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Access ad-free episodes released two days early: https://patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast Subscribe to The Life Shift Newsletter: https://www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/newsletter/ The Life Shift was just named one of the top 60 life-changing podcasts by FeedSpot: https://podcast.feedspot.com/life_changing_podcasts/ Connect with me: Instagram: @thelifeshiftpodcast Facebook: The Life Shift Podcast YouTube: Watch on YouTube Twitter: @thelifeshiftpod LinkedIn: The Life Shift on LinkedIn Website: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Grief: The Night She Promised to Keep Going

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This episode was published on July 15, 2025.

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This episode includes discussion of suicide loss and grief. Please listen with care. -- What do you do when your life changes in an instant? When Donna Kendrick lost her husband to suicide, she was left standing at a painful crossroads – three young...

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