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“I always wanted
to write,” said Nan Zastrow. “But I never dreamed it would be about
death, grief, and mourning.” Today I write to heal my pain and teach
others that even after a life-changing event, there can be a reason and
a purpose to go on living.”
On April 16,
1993, Chad Zastrow, the son of Nan and Gary died as the result of
suicide. Ten weeks later Chad’s fiancée took her life. This double
tragedy inspired the Zastrows to create a ministry of hope. They formed
a non-profit organization called ©Roots and Wings—publisher of the
Wings™ magazine. They chose to share their experiences, as a
couple, and create community awareness about grief. Nan and Gary host
two community workshops each year, give group presentations about grief
and mourning, and facilitate a Sudden Death Learning Series for the
bereaved three times a year since 1996. The Wings magazine is
published quarterly and contains inspiration, hope, and true stories
about people coping with grief.
Nan is the
author of a book, Blessed Are They That Mourn, and over thirty
Editor’s Journal Articles in Wings and other publications. Their
non-profit organization is the recipient of the 2000 Flame of Freedom
Award for community volunteerism. In May 2002, the Zastrows earned
their Certificate in Death and Grief Education from the Center for Loss
and Life Transition as awarded through the University of Colorado. They
studied with Dr. Alan D. Wolfelt, an internationally known thanatologist,
author, and grief counselor. Nan & Gary are hospice volunteers and
survivors of five sudden deaths of significant people in their lives. |
