Our Team
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
The reason Grieving Hearts can heal hearts.
Board Members
Advisory Council
Linda Knowles, MFT, Kerry's Mom
Jodie Benstead, Shannon's Mom​
Guiding Lights
Jill Batiansila, President, Founder of Together We Heal, Daughter
Reina President, Founder of Olivia Chan Foundation, Olivia's Mom
Sara Tapparo, VP, Cofounder of Momma Bears Fighting Childhood Cancer, Ashley's Mom
Close Supporters
Jaqueline Turos, Jesse's Mom
Debbie Harrell, Cofounder 100+ Women Who Care of Placer County, Jame's Mom
Jeanne Rodriguez, CEO Crystal Rodriguez Memorial Scholarship Fund, Crystal's Mom
Community Supporters
Barnes & Noble - Folsom
American River Dental - Rancho Cordova
Mr. & Mrs. Turos - Folsom
North Coast Church - El Dorado Hills
Inspirations
Elizabeth Schneider, Founder Jaxon's Blue Little Bike, Jaxon's Mom
Allison Ibsen, Narcan Advocate Dylan's Mom
Dr. Brenda Daily, PhD, LCSW, Grief Therapist, Kevin's Mom
Generous Donors
Dr. Rita J, EdD
Jodie George, MFT
Drs. Barton and Lou-Barton
Our Values
Compassion
We meet grieving mothers with empathy, tenderness, and care.
Community
We create safe, supportive spaces where no mother grieves alone.
Integrity
We act with honesty, transparency, and responsibility in all we do.
Empowerment
We encourage strength, resilience, and healing on each unique journey.
​​Remembrance
​We honor and cherish the memory of our children gone too soon.
About Us
Grieving Hearts was born in 2025 out of a profound and often unseen need among mothers who have lost a child—specialized support, connection, healing spaces, and meaningful advocacy. Grieving Hearts exists for them. Grieving Hearts exists because the need is real.
Our Mission​
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Our mission is to help mothers who have been shattered by the anguish of losing a child, learn that she can survive — and to help her find a way to carry joy alongside the sadness and re-engage with family and friends, perhaps even at a deeper level.
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What We Do​
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We help grieving mothers heal by offering therapeutic art and crafts and other healing activities that help us create, move, and grow at no to very low cost.
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We coordinate personal peer support through private introductions to offer true understanding.
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We maintain a library of hard-to-find resources for moms.
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We are advocates for bereavement law reform.
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We are raising funds to provide emergency financial support as bereavement pay is often only a few days to a week -- when what a mother needs is time and space to grieve, not be overwhelmed by an added stress of basic survival.
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Through determined and heartfelt outreach to chaplains, grief facilitators, hospices, and other care professionals throughout the region to let mothers know that we are here for them, when they are ready.
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