Facing Death in the Public Eye
April 1, 2008 by Anna Farmery
Filed under Grief
Death is hard to cope with but one thing I struggle to comprehend is how do you cope when you are in the public eye…how do you grieve whilst the world is watching? How do you cope when people are talking about the death of your partner? Wow, my heart always goes out to celebrity widows.
Corinne Bailey Rae – a wonderful singer from the UK – lost her husband 
and it is reported that she “is reportedly so heartbroken that she has not ventured out of her house since she found out about the death. ”
Her husband was interviewed before his death and said “I could die tomorrow and think I’ve lived my life.
“The lifestyle is part and parcel of being a musician. It makes you feel separate from the rest of the world. There’s more angst, torture and edge to my life.”
That last quote got me thinking that in a society that seems obsessed with celebrity….the price of fame may be something that we should all think about.
For me, I cannot imagine what Corinne is thinking, feeling at this time….we all have to cope with the pain..but maybe we should spare a thought today for the people who don’t have the space to grieve like we do…
I also read this article and it touched me so much. It could be my story! After five years of being a widow, I too, met someone. I wasn’t even looking really. At best I hoped to meet someone to have dinner with once in a while. I never expected to love someone so deeply ever again. The comment in the article about being a widow again…I feel that to the depths. Will my children accept him?
I’ve sent this article to several of my friends because I think it really explains how I feel. I also sent it to him and he totally agreed. His wife and I would have been friends. Being in a relationship with a widower means I don’t have to forget being married to my late husband. We talk about our spouses openly, the good and the bad, and there is no feeling of having to suppress everything. Has anyone else had this experience?
Deb..thank you for sharing your story. Hearing from people who have suffered a bereavement, coped with the pain and then learning to love again is fantastic. The more we share these stories the more we can help each other