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.
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
Finding Joy….in a Bucket List
by Denice Dalen Freih It has been a long time since my daughter and her boyfriend both died as a result of a car accident. She was just weeks shy from turning twenty on her golden birthday. Without warning, our lives were shattered. My heart, broken. Grief was a constant companion. But somehow in my deepest grief, I found another
The Year in Review
Measuring the Impact of Bri’s Lodge in 2025 2025 was a year of Growth, Connection, and Deepened impact for Bri’s Lodge. This past year we expanded our reach and strengthened our role as a support system for grieving individuals and families throughout the area. As we walked alongside families navigating their grief and healing journey, our community showed up to
NAVIGATING THE EMPTINESS OF GRIEF
NAVIGATING THE EMPTINESS OF GRIEF Coping With Loneliness and Isolation After Loss by Tami Kruzel After losing BriAnna, I socially isolated myself. I went to work and came home, and rarely left the house beyond that. I was broken. Watching people laugh felt unbearable. Parties made no sense—what was there to celebrate? My daughter was gone. Holidays felt the same.
Helping People, Changing Lives: The Benefits of Volunteering While Grieving
The Impact of Volunteering: Helping Others Through Serving Grief and bereavement can profoundly affect emotional, physical, and social well-being. While grief support often focuses on receiving care, research and lived experience show that helping others through service also plays a meaningful role in healing. Volunteering does not remove grief, but can foster purpose, connection, and moments of relief during an
The Physical Effects of Grief: Grief can be hard on your health. Support is essential!
Grief is often described as an emotional experience, but its effects extend far beyond thoughts and feelings. Research consistently shows that grief can have a real and significant impact on your body. For many people seeking grief support, the physical effects of grief are unexpected and sometimes concerning—especially when symptoms persist weeks or months after the loss of their loved
GRIEF THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS
by Natasha Orbeck O’Connor Finding Joy During the Holidays After Loss I’ve never felt an emotion quite like grief. It lingers throughout the year and feels heavier when the holidays come. I always find myself asking, “How am I supposed to be filled with joy when a piece of my heart is missing?” It’s been almost 9 years since my
Do Those Things That Give You Life
A Long Road Back It was a beautiful fall afternoon on that particular October Friday. And what began as Homecoming weekend with college-aged kids coming home, ended with a Home-going that no one saw coming. My nineteen-year-old daughter was gone. Gone as a result of a car accident. What was just another day filled with plans for a fun weekend,