Grief and loss are fundamental aspects of the human experience. This book explores the desire to make sense out of the nonsensical by exploring specific loss and grief experiences. The autoethnographic essays reflect on the unique and individual experiences of each contributor’s story. Simultaneously, these experiences reveal that although their grief experience is unique, it is also cultural and collective, evoking broader cultural themes related to loss and grief. The chapters in this book represent a wide range of loss experiences ranging from the loss of a parent, child, or partner, loss within larger family systems, ambiguous and anticipatory loss to broader cultural aspects of grief. Scholars of communication, sociology, and family studies will find this book of particular interest.

Contributions by: Wendi Bellar, Myleah Brewer, Nancy J. Brule, Leah E. Bryant, Patricia English-Schneider, Jonathan M. Gray, Faith Griffiths, Dena M. Huisman, Lesa Lockford, Meggie Mapes, Joann Martyn, Lori L. Montalbano, Jacqueline K. Owens, Ronald J. Pelias, Southern Illinois University, Deleasa Randall-Griffiths, Sharon L. Russell, Kimberly J. Stanislo, Elizabeth Stephens, Nathan P. Stucky, Kristen P. Treinen, Savaughn Williams, Stephanie L. Young, Olga Zatepilina-Monacell