Authors and presenters Lo Anne Mayer, Uma Girish and Daniela I. Norris of the International Grief Counsel will share their individual journeys in coping with grief and how they use the gifts of grief to serve the world today at Lakewood's Georgian Court University Sept. 28.

The two-hour event begins at 1 p.m. in the university's Little Theatre. It includes individual presentations during which each of the three will offer their own perspectives on their particular experiences with grief.

After the presentations, those attending will be able to participate in a Q&A session moderated by Sachiko Komagata, associate professor of holistic health and chair of the GCU department of holistic health and Exercise.

In a brief interview, Mayer, a member of St. John Parish, Lakehurst, explained that she, Girish and Norris were drawn together following the deaths of family members. In Mayer's case, it was the loss of her mother 11 years ago and just a year later, the death of her 40-year old daughter, that inspired a transformational search for healing.

This search would lead her to a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in search of peace and to conveying her emotions through journaling. Eventually, she would write a book on her experiences entitled “Celestial Conversations”.

For Girish, a resident of Chicago and an adherent of the Hindu faith, it was the loss of both parents, while Norris, a Jewish woman from Israel, struggled to deal with the feelings of regret over the sudden death of her younger brother while he was on vacation.

Girish and Norris have also authored books on grief and the works of all three women will be avilable at a book signing at the close of the program.

Mayer said that the perspectives of the trio – coming as they do from different backgrounds – have given them much insight into how differently people grieve around the world. Mayer said she's observed that while European people are apt to express their emotions openly, Americans tend to keep their grief bottled up.

The trio hopes, she said, that the session will “prime the pump” for those attending and help them “move out and get the help they need to discover that they are not alone. We hope it will help them find ways to move forward.”

Mayer, who is currently at work on putting together a list of resources in the area where those experiencing grief can turn to for help, says the focus is on “shining a light on ways to get unstuck. There's such a reticence on the part of Americans to talk about grief. If you look, there is help and hope.”

The event is free but space is limited. For more information or to make reservations, contact the GCU Office of Conferences and Special Events at 732-987-2263.