Lisa Woolery
After two decades as a public relations executive, Lisa was thrown into widowhood without warning. Not ashamed of her many “hot messes,” she shares the challenges of rebuilding life after the desolation of losing her husband. Lisa writes with grit, humor, and raw honesty so other widows know they don’t have to be perfect in the face of grief. In her memoir The Widow’s Comeback, she dives into money, abandonment, parenting tweens, dating, self-forgiveness, and faith—offering companionship and hope for the road ahead. She lives in Kansas City, loving on her two teenagers while chasing after her three rapscallion dogs. For fun, she travels the world, plays pickleball, and reads in her cheetah-print recliner.
Chapter 19: My Future Died,
But My Life is Not Over
Chopping broccoli one evening, Lisa finds her husband Eric dead in his office and performs CPR until paramedics arrive. Traditional grief group support doesn’t fit, so she and her kids create their own Wednesdays: parks, 20,000 steps, space to rage and talk. Lisa vows a “comeback,” accepts help, cries in public if needed, and builds a vision board that leads to hiking with strangers, studying French wines at Cornell, and even dating as a way to meet herself again. She becomes a Chiefs fan, plays pickleball, and learns that grief is permanent love—so be patient, keep moving, and choose healing.
Listen To Lisa’s Podcast Here:
Episode 48: The Widow’s Comeback: Grief, Grit,
and Owning the Hot Mess with Lisa Woolery
Read Lisa’s Story In The
Empowered Grief Journey
Discover Lisa’s story and 22 others inside The Empowered Grief Journey. A collection of voices who have faced the depths of loss and emerged transformed.
Through raw, heart-centered storytelling and deep reflection, each author shares how grief became their greatest teacher guiding them toward acceptance, resilience, and empowerment.
These stories remind us that grief is not something to escape, but a journey that awakens us to deeper wisdom, presence, and personal truth. Within these pages, you’ll find hope, reassurance, and the quiet strength that comes from choosing to live fully, even after loss.
Whether you are grieving a loved one or rediscovering yourself after change, this book will meet you where you are and invite you to rise, rebuild, and reconnect with your own inner power.
Join The Empowered Grief Collective
Continue the conversation with others readers by joining our community of grievers from across the world.
Connect with others who truly understand grief & loss
Additional grief resources to support you between the pages
Live webinars on healing, coping, and self‑discovery
Zoom calls with grief coaches for real‑time support
Your story matters. Your healing matters.
You don’t have to walk this road alone.
The Empowered Grief Journey Podcast
This podcast is your dedicated space for healing and transformation.
Each episode brings real conversations with people around the
world who have navigated grief and discovered the strength
to create inspiring new beginnings.
You’ll discover how to walk from loss to empowerment through
powerful storytelling and actionable insights that will
guide you towards a future filled with courage and hope.
