Kay Fontana

I am Kay Fontana, Ed.D., and I am deeply familiar with the pain of loss, having experienced numerous heart-wrenching losses throughout my life.

At just nine years old, I lost my brother to cancer, and witnessing my parents' immense grief was an unbearable experience. The pain continued as my mother battled Alzheimer's and ultimately passed away in 2014, shortly after my completion of a Grief Recovery Support Group. In 2019, my father was diagnosed with cancer and passed away a week later at the remarkable age of 96. Most recently, in January 2023, I experienced the devastating loss of my husband and soul mate of 40 years due to multiple health issues, including diabetes.

Throughout these profound losses, as well as the countless others experienced along the way, including grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, friends, in-laws, co-workers, and cherished pets, I discovered the power of healing and resilience. In 2015, driven by my personal jou ey, I became a Grief Recovery Specialist, equipping myself with the necessary tools to navigate the complexities of grief and help others find their own path to healing.

With an extensive background in grief support and a deep commitment to helping others during their most challenging times, I bring a diverse range of experiences and qualifications to my work as a Grief Recovery Specialist. Alongside this role, I am also a Licensed Spiritual Practitioner (RScP) and hold a doctoral dissertation focused on the Mindfulness and Compassion of Hospice Dementia Care Volunteers.

My previous experiences include facilitating grief support groups for both adults and children, serving as a firefighter and paramedic, and being a member of Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) teams for various emergency services. I have also had the privilege of training 9-1-1 dispatchers and hospice volunteers, further enriching my understanding of supporting individuals in their times of need.

My passion for helping others during their most difficult moments has been a driving force throughout my life. Combining my personal experiences with loss, my academic background, and my extensive training, I provide compassionate guidance, profound understanding, and practical tools to individuals navigating the complex landscape of grief.

My website is a place of solace, guidance, and support for those struggling with the pain of loss. Through my personal experiences and professional expertise, I offer valuable resources, insights, and compassionate understanding to help individuals move through their grief, find a sense of hope, and ultimately rebuild their lives.

I am Kay Fontana, a lifelong learner, natural explorer, and navigator of Life. I have made it my life's intention to serve my higher purpose, which was unclear for a while. It became increasingly evident during my jou ey of ups and downs, that my purpose is to be a guiding light for others on their path of life.

I’ve experienced many losses in my lifetime. When I was nine, my brother died of cancer a month after his 17th birthday. After battling Alzheimer’s, my mom made her transition in 2014 in hospice care just three days after I completed a Grief Recovery Support Group. My father died of cancer a week after he was diagnosed at the age of 96. Most recently in January 2023, my husband and soul mate of 40 years lost his battle with multiple health issues including diabetes which was the cause of his death. In between those losses, there have been too many to mention including friends, extended family members, and beloved pets; however, the Grief Recovery Method has helped me move through the grief and has allowed me to be at a place where I can help others do the same.

In addition to being certified as a Grief Recovery Specialist, I am a Licensed Spiritual Practitioner (RScP) and wrote my doctoral dissertation on Mindfulness and Compassion: A Phenomenological Study of Hospice Dementia Care Volunteers. My experience includes facilitating grief support groups for adults, working as a firefighter and paramedic, serving on Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) teams for emergency services, working in hospice care, and training 9-1-1 dispatchers and hospice volunteers. I am also currently certified as a Life Force Coach, Qigong Flow Form Instructor, EFT Practitioner, Reiki Master, and Emotion Code Practitioner.

I believe in the Grief Recovery Method and know it will help you as it has helped me move through many losses. I am in Sun City, AZ and provide support groups in the West Valley and online.