Dayton Community and Support Group for Widows
Our Mission for Widows
We serve to empower widows to lean into life, build resilience and make a positive difference in society.
Modern Widows Club is designed to create a safe and private environment for widows to lean into life together through the journey.
We are the club no one wants to be in because you only get in by virtue of experiencing a great loss. Yet what I hope you find once you’re here is that you’re surrounded by a community of really amazing women that you can lean on and learn from. We’re widows helping widows to live- to go upward and onward. Sometimes we cry and sometimes we laugh. We talk about how to tackle challenges without our partners’ help and cheer each other on. We often share food as we do this, because who doesn’t like to eat?
When a woman loses her loved one she tends to feel very alone. Regardless of her age or circumstances, she will benefit from other women in her life who understand the unique challenges she is now faced with. She needs women who will build her up and encourage her in this new life she walks. We are stronger together. No woman is an island. We need each other.
Meet Our Community Advocates
Terry D.
I am a lifelong resident of the Miami Valley (Dayton Ohio area), born and raised here. I’m the 2nd oldest of nine siblings. Married for 53 years, widowed April 28, 2018, and I have 4 children and 11 grandchildren. One of the best achievements in my life is the success of my children. Two sons, my daughter, and a grandson are Marine Vets, with a grandson graduating from West Point this year. All three sons own businesses and my daughter is a nurse who is a coordinator for several nursing homes in the Pittsburgh area. I owned a cleaning business, “Dabbelt’s Janitorial Inc.” for 12 years and now one of my sons is the owner and is a barber who owns Normandy Barber shop. My youngest son is the owner of 3 Granite Transformations franchises and my oldest is an independent carpenter. I was children’s director for Christ Life Church for 5 years and still am very involved in this Church now called Lifepointe. I have been a Realtor for 18 years and love working with buyers and sellers.
After becoming a widow, I began looking for something to help me resume living again. I began searching for a widow’s support group. I could only find grief counseling in my area. I wanted something more and came across Modern Widows Club. I listened to Carolyn’s podcast and said to myself, this is what I need. After contacting them I found that there weren’t any communities near me. I felt a call in my spirit to look into starting a group in the Dayton, Ohio area, and after several interviews, I was invited to go to the Leadership conference in Nashville. I would say that it was love at first sight. The widows there were amazing. So much love and devotion from all of them. Although I am in the beginning stages of starting my group, I have a heart to touch other widows in my area and help them be resilient and contribute to society.
Deborah J.
Patrick died suddenly on 5/7/2019, he was only 50. We were married for almost 28 years. Having spent most of those 28 years raising our 5 kids I was completely lost. Now after 3 years I am recovering some of myself & learning to hold on as I look for what the future still holds. It’s a journey, a marathon, not a sprint.
Melissa H.
I became widowed on March 20, 2021. Andy and I were married 31 years and I miss him terribly. We have 3 sons, a daughter, daughter in law and now a precious granddaughter. He fought his rare cancer: acute digital papillary adenocarcinoma for many many years. I believe in my heart he fought so long, not just for himself, but for all of us.
I am so happy that my Google search led to MWC. It’s the club none of us want to be in, but it is so comforting to be with such wonderful ladies that understand everything you’re going through. As an advocate, I hope to help other widows find that same comfort and understanding.
