In this powerful episode of Alone and Rising, host Mari Williams sits down with Judy Reith to explore the transformative journey of navigating grief, loneliness, and rediscovering purpose after losing a spouse. Judy shares her raw and inspiring story of creating Cambridge Widows, a support group that helps widowed individuals find connection, healing, and joy through shared experiences. With vulnerability and wisdom, she reveals how facing darkness can lead to unexpected light, offering hope and practical insights for anyone struggling with loss and learning to rebuild life on their own terms. You can find out about Cambridge Widows here https://www.cambridgewidows.com/ You can connect with Judy on LinkedIn here https://www.linkedin.com/in/judy-reith-a6ab7b10/ You can help Mari with her research by taking the Alone and Rising questionnaire here https://aloneandrisingquestionnaire.scoreapp.com/ About todays guest, Judy Reith: Judy is a life coach and writer of parenting books, and the acclaimed life coaching book ‘Act 3: The Art of Growing Older’ co-authored with her husband Adrian, a business and life coach until he died. Now widowed three years, Judy continues to write and is working on two novels. She has three grown up daughters who have flown the nest, and are in touch on WhatsApp most days! Judy is also the Co-Founder of Cambridge Widows ) a group of widows who meet in person and offer vital support, understanding and resources. They also have some shared activities, such as outings and a pop-up choir with widowers too. Cambridge Widows laugh as much as they cry. Judy still lives in the family home in Cambridge, or at her seaside cottage on the Suffolk coast with her dog Ted. She is a sluggish runner, choir singer, reader and a big fan of community initiatives. She a loves nothing more than a good laugh or a deep conversation with her friends, aided by wine and cheese. Widowhood is by far the worst thing she has encountered, but running Cambridge Widows and bringing something positive to heartbroken women is a tiny silver lining from Adrian’s death. For more information about Cambridge widows, please go to www.cambridgewidows.com What is Cambridge Widows? Judy and her neighbour Helen were both widowed in 2021 when their healthy husbands died of cancer. Both couples never met, but they expected to grow old and enjoy retirement adventures. Instead, Judy and Helen were thrown into widowhood, and devastating grief. By chance, a neighbour introduced them, and they immediately formed a strong friendship from shared trauma, isolation and loss. More widows came along, and three years on, there are now 55 Cambridge Widows members who meet regularly, enjoy outings and vital empathic support. Our age range is 50ish- 70ish, a transition time of life which makes being widowed so painful. Any woman whose partner has died is welcome to contact us. Judy Reith said: “Being widowed has turned my life upside down, yet singing in a choir of widows for a day was such a tonic for coping with loneliness and grief. Meeting Helen, forming Cambridge Widows and organising events for widows and widowers has given some purpose to my life again.” You can help Mari with her research by taking the Alone and Rising questionnaire here https://aloneandrisingquestionnaire.scoreapp.com/
