Grief changes everything — but it doesn’t have to be faced alone. This blog was created to offer hope, understanding, and connection to anyone navigating loss. Here, we share personal stories, healing insights, and practical tools to support your grief journey.
Founded in memory of my daughter, BriAnna Rose Kruzel, Bri’s Lodge exists to provide compassionate grief support across Minnesota and beyond. Whether you’re seeking comfort, guidance, or simply a reminder that your feelings are valid, you belong here. Together, we’ll explore how love endures, how healing unfolds, and how we can find purpose — even in the midst of deep loss.
Grief’s Pathway
There is No Set Path in Grief, by Tami Kruzel One of the most common questions people ask after the death of someone they love is, “Am I grieving the right way?” It’s an understandable question. We live in a world that likes timelines, checklists, and clear expectations. We want to know what comes next and when life will start
Bereaved Parents Month: Honoring a Love That Never Ends
Every July, Bereaved Parents Month shines a light on a journey that no parent ever expects to take—the loss of a child. There are no words that fully capture the depth of this kind of loss. Whether a child was an infant, a teenager, or an adult, they will always be their parent’s child. The hopes, dreams, milestones, and memories
UNDERSTANDING THE RIPPLE EFFECTS OF GRIEF… Life Changes After Loss:
When someone experiences a significant loss, people often ask, “How are you doing?” It is a caring question, but it can unintentionally suggest that grief is simply an emotional experience — something measured by sadness alone. The reality is that grief reaches far beyond emotions. Loss can affect nearly every part of a person’s life: physical health, relationships, routines, work, memory, identity,
Professional Grief Counseling
Why It Can Help & How to Find the Right Counselor: After losing someone important in your life, the emotions that follow can feel overwhelming, confusing, and isolating. Many people wonder if what they are experiencing is “normal.” Others question whether they should seek professional support or tell themselves they simply need to be stronger and push through. There is
Honoring & Remembering Your Loved One
As Memorial Day approaches, many people think about remembrance. For some, it means honoring military service and sacrifice. For others, holidays like Memorial Day can stir grief and bring memories of someone deeply loved and deeply missed. After loss, one of the fears many people carry is this: What if they are forgotten? We hold onto photos, special belongings, favorite songs,
Coping with Loneliness & Isolation After Loss
by Tami Kruzel Loneliness after loss is not just about being alone. It’s about feeling alone in a world that keeps moving when your world has stopped. After my daughter BriAnna died, I didn’t just withdraw for a few weeks or months. I spent five years socially isolating myself. Five years of declining invitations, avoiding gatherings, and building walls that
Ignite Hope. Host an External Fundraiser
Finding Hope & Healing: The Power of Connection in Central Minnesota
By Erika Boike Grief is a journey no one should walk alone. In Central Minnesota, organizations likeBri’s Lodge, a Grief & Loss Center are dedicated to providing bereavement support,grief support, and resources for those coping with loss. My story is one of heartbreak,healing, and the impact of community connections—reminding us all that hope can befound even in the darkest moments.
Turning Pain into Purpose
I didn’t expect to become fluent in grief.I didn’t study for it or seek it out.Grief arrived, and then it stayed. Five years ago, I lost my oldest son to an accidental overdose. He was 34. The shock of that turned my life upside down and split my life into before and after, a line I would never fully cross
Help! How Can I Support My Grieving Friend?
In our work at Bri’s Lodge, we frequently share with our communities about the importance of normalizing grief as a part of life—and how, in time, grief can coexist with laughter, connection, and joy. We believe no one should grieve alone, and whether that is through our work of offering support groups, workshops or other programs and services, or by