WAYNESBORO, Pa. — Karen S. Justice helped illuminate the challenges of widowhood for attendees at the Friends of the Alexander Hamilton Memorial Free Library annual meeting earlier this month.
Justice, of Frederick, also discussed how she and co-authors Karen R. Smith-Racicot and Rebecca L. LaChance navigated the writing process of the book, “Widows Among Us.”
Widows should be “transparent, honest and allow themselves to be vulnerable,” said Justice, who also is the author of “Life Flows: Poetic Reflections and Pools of Wisdom.”
Justice had been married 47 years when her husband, John, died. “Every day, over 2,800 American women become widows. The average age of these widows is 59.4 years old. And there are 11 million widows in the United States,” according to Justice.
“This book is about helping women to build a new life after widowhood … how to start recreating yourself. This changes us, but isn’t the end of us,” added Justice, who said she and her co-author friends “brought each other to tears” while writing the book. “You feel like the rug has been pulled out from under you, but you still have the floor.
“Self-care is critically important for widows. Every person’s experience is unique,” noted Justice as she outlined steps for the process. They include grace, purpose-project-passion, getting engaged, self care, gratitude, which improves your attitude, keeps you happy and moving forward in a positive way, letting go, finding a safe place, asking for help, and in paraphrasing the words of Zig Ziglar, “make a choice to take a chance to make a change,” she said. Justice also suggested widows keep a journal or notebook and offered ways to help support a widowed friend.
Friends annual meeting
Friends president Leslie McEntire outlined activities of the library the past year. She noted $9,340 was raised for the library through book sales, Friends memberships, donations and proceeds from sales in the library’s Peggy McCleary book store, named in memory of the long-time Friends president.
In addition to helping with book sales, Friends supported the summer reading program, which had 720 participants, the recent Speakeasy fundraiser at the library, National Night Out at Memorial Park in Waynesboro and other events.
“And you’ve all been very supportive,” McEntire added. “We’ve moved from a place to get books to being the center of the community with lots of classes for all ages.”
Library director Julie Diaz described the library as a “hopping place” and thanked the Friends for its assistance. “I cannot tell you how much we appreciate you. We continue to grow at a rapid pace and your volunteer and financial support is absolutely amazing. This little library is ahead of the curve.”
Diaz also offered highlights of her recent trip to Harrisburg with other library staffers for a conference.
She announced the library has earned its sixth consecutive Gold Star award from PA Forward for integrating five key literacies into its programming and communications: Basic, Information, Civic and Social, Health, and Financial.
The group also heard reports from Tallie Parks, library manager; Julie Pflager, children’s librarian; and Andrea Bowersox, bookstore manager, who said more than $8,000 was earned from its sales.
Friends voted to fund the library’s wish list, which includes the purchase of equipment and supplies to support the following programs: $1,800 each for children and teens; $1,500 for adults; $2,400 for the summer reading program and $1,200 for the director’s choice.
Officers for 2027 include McEntire; Connie Fleagle, vice president; Jill Kessler, secretary; and Debi Duffey, treasurer.
