A small group of women who had lost their husbands took a leap of faith in 2019; today, they have their sights set on changing lives
ANN ARBOR — In 2023, a small group of women started meeting monthly for breakfast in Ann Arbor. They shared a common bond of Christian values, and another connection: they each had lost their husband.
They dreamed together about what they could do to help other women whose lives had been turned upside down by the loss of a spouse. As they comforted and provided support to one another, they were sure there were other widows out there who needed the same.
During one of their meet-ups last year, Cathy Ostrowski, who had lost her husband of 31 years to cancer in 2019, was eager to bring some exciting news to the group. She had bought the domain name WidowsMight.net. And still more exciting, she felt moved by the Holy Spirit that the group should host a conference for widows.
To convey their goal of building relationships and providing a network of support, the decided on a name for the conference: “Widow to Widow: Building a Community to Thrive.”
Plans for the event came together quickly. The principal at Fr. Gabriel Richard High School in Ann Arbor, where some of the women’s children attend, offered use of the school for free. The women posted on social media and distributed flyers to friends and family to spread the word.
“It really was a leap of faith for everyone. When I was starting to doubt the idea of a conference and if anyone would register, my sister said to me, ‘Who cares? Just show up. That’s what God wants you to do. Just show up and give,’” recalled Ostrowski.
Ostrowski didn’t have to worry about attendance. While the leadership team hoped 20 women would register, 70 widows from ages 35 to 85 showed up that day in November. The conference featured a keynote talk, group reflections and breakout sessions.
Friends stepped up to help. Angel Lichy, a friend of several women on the leadership team, provided makeovers to attendees who wanted to be pampered, while other friends provided meals.
The day was a success as the widows shared, prayed, learned, cried and laughed together. At the end of the conference, prayer ministers and Eucharistic adoration were offered in the school’s chapel for those who wished to stay.
Krystin Weeks, whose husband passed away in 2021 from pancreatic cancer, is a parishioner at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Plymouth and a Widows Might founder and board member. She was overwhelmed by the openness of the women who attended.
“It shows there is a need for something like this,” Weeks told Detroit Catholic. “No matter how old you are, whether your loss was two weeks ago or 20 years ago, it doesn’t matter. If you need support, you need support.”
Brittney Broich, a 35-year-old mom of two, met her husband on her first day of college classes. He passed away unexpectedly in 2021. She learned about the Widows Might conference in a widows’ Facebook group.
“It’s hard to be a younger person and a widow. The first year after he died was easiest because people are checking in on you, and it doesn’t seem real yet. But then it hits you and people back away, and you feel isolated,” Broich said. “Meanwhile, you keep grieving and you grieve for your kids, too.”
Anita Henlein lost her husband 45 years ago when she was only 40 years old. She saw a flyer for the conference in the chapel at her parish, St. John the Baptist in Ypsilanti. She was pleased to learn that women of all ages and at all stages of loss were welcome.
“I felt I was helpful to some of the others since I’ve been widowed for so long, and we could all relate to each other,” Henlein said.
Since November, Widows Might used the momentum of the enthusiasm at the conference to launch other events, including monthly coffee get-togethers on Friday mornings and monthly Friday evening dessert socials.
From practical needs to emotional support, the Widows Might board continues to dream of the many ways to enrich the lives of widows using the unique skills and ideas of all involved. Ostrowski would like to create a database for widows needing a plumber, electrician, accountant, or other services. Another board member, Jennifer Thomm, hopes to establish a camp or class where boys who have lost their fathers can learn to do “guy things” in a positive and faith-filled atmosphere.
The leadership team would also like to form smaller groups of women based on geographical location or age to meet the needs of many.
Broich felt edified by the conference and the Widows Might events she has attended.
“I don’t know of anything else like this out there,” Broich said. “It's important because no one else can understand what it’s like.”
On March 12, Widows Might became a 5013(c) nonprofit organization.
“It feels like things are in their infancy right now and we’re operating with our hearts,” Ostrowski said. “We’re trying to get an infrastructure in place, but even as we do that, we’re helping widows. The widow’s sphere has given us endless opportunities to tackle one project at a time.”
The Widows Might leadership team prays that word will spread about their organization to the women who need community and encouragement from other widows.
“Your grief is never gone. Grief is a constant, and we grow around it. We grow in spite of it,” Weeks said. “So from the practical suggestions to sharing with each other, we can say, ‘I’m here to hold your hand. We can walk through this together.’”
If you are a widow seeking support from other Christian women, email [email protected] or find the group on Facebook.
