Grief Cartoons

Susan MacLeod’s Grief Cartoons

Susan MacLeod is a Nova Scotian artist writing and drawing about health care issues. Her humorous book, Dying for Attention: A Graphic Memoir of Nursing Home Care, follows her nine-year journey shepherding her mother through a callous long-term care system amid family strife, which inspired her interest in end-of-life issues. The book was given an “Outstanding in its Genre” review by the American Library Association publication, Booklist and was nominated for a Creative Non-Fiction Award by the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia. Her illustrations have been published by Kaiser Permanente, Halifax Magazine, Lion’s Roar Magazine, Maisonneuve, The Fold, and The Globe and Mail.

Follow her work on Instagram and at susanmacleod.ca

Margaret and Ruby
Susan MacLeod Susan MacLeod

Margaret and Ruby

We've all heard people say of a pet owner's loss, "But it's just a dog!". When Margaret Angus's dog Ruby died, she knew she lost much, much more . . . . Thank you, Margaret, for sharing.

Read More
Creating Your Own Visual Obituary
Guest Cartoonist: Jill Greenbaum, Ed.D Guest Cartoonist: Jill Greenbaum, Ed.D

Creating Your Own Visual Obituary

Creating your own visual obituary offers a way to think about your life and death in a calming, reflective way. We are happy to welcome a guest cartoonist, Jill Greenbaum, Ed.D., this month. Jill is a contemplative chaplain/spiritual companion who facilitates workshops where people reflect on their lives, choose what they wish to memorialize, and create visual obituaries.

Read More
After Bill Died…
Susan MacLeod Susan MacLeod

After Bill Died…

Robbie McGinn’s partner of 32 years recently died after a long illness. In this cartoon, she generously shares the many ways grief is coming to her. She also shares the varied and valued ways the community, Mi'kmaw and non-Indigenous, are supporting her. "Grief is becoming gently embedded into my being," she notes. She also notes she particularly enjoys the chocolate croissants people are bringing over!

Read More
Cooking for Dead People
Susan MacLeod Susan MacLeod

Cooking for Dead People

“Cooking for Dead People" is more than an intriguing name for a YouTube channel; it's a deep dive into one slow and meaningful way to experience grief and form a new kind of relationship with a lost loved one. Emma Palumbo, the show’s host, tells us more.

Read More
Sharing Grief With Strangers!
Susan MacLeod Susan MacLeod

Sharing Grief With Strangers!

When Stephanie Levac's mother invited her to a musical about death in Toronto, "In Dreams", she leapt at the chance. Roy Orbison! Live Theatre! Death! Stephanie is a musician and a trained hospice volunteer; her mother is an oncology pharmacist. As experienced as they are with grief, they were surprised at all that can arise when grief is shared in a public space.

Read More
Grief is much more than one person, alone...
Susan MacLeod Susan MacLeod

Grief is much more than one person, alone...

Our Grief Matters initiative, in part, aspires to move grief from the personal realm to the community space.

We see our social, public lives and spaces as essential hosts for grievers and for creating a common understanding of grief and its complexities. (This is explained in more detail in this month's blog.)

Read More