The Oxidation of Grief: Reflections on Adult Sibling Loss (Wisdom of Life)

The death of an adult sibling precipitates a flood of emotions in the surviving sisters and brothers. Feelings of grief are not easily gotten over in neatly ordered stages. Neither are efforts to make sense of the loss and come to terms with an irreparable hole in ones family constellation. In Part 1 of The Oxidation of Grief Maria Piantanida shares her responses to her younger sisters death from renal cancer. Mingled with expressions of grief are Marias struggles with notions of spirituality faith belief and the meaning of life. Part 2 of the book consists of narratives of adult sibling loss. These narrative were crafted from interviews with thirteen men and women who lost one or more siblings under unexpected (sometimes catastrophic) circumstances chronic disease or terminal illness. In sharing both her own reflections and those of others Maria hopes that others may find comfort in knowing they are not alone as they cope with the death of an adult sibling.