She lost her son in 2018. Since then, Rosanne Norris has helped other parents cope
When Rosanne Norris of Windsor lost her adult son six years ago, her world was shattered.
Her 30-year-old son, Lee, died of an accidental carbon monoxide poisoning at his Town of Binghamton home in 2018. His dog, Buddy, also died in the accident.
“The pain was at a level that was beyond anything I had experienced,” she said. “If I can help somebody with that kind of loss, then that’s what I’m here for.”
That’s why she started a local chapter of Helping Parents Heal in 2019. The group, which has chapters all over the world, helps parents cope with the loss of their children. Parents who’ve lost children support other parents in the same boat.
For Norris, losing the middle son of her five children was devastating. A graduate of Clarkson University and an employee of BAE Systems, Lee was known for his red hair, sense of humor and love of astronomy, his mother said.
“Lee was a very introspective person," Norris said. “He was very smart. He loved to read.”
To cope with her loss, she tried grief counseling and grief groups. Then, she discovered Helping Parents Heal.
“They focus on the healing journey which is a lifetime journey,” she said of the group. “They’re very open to discussion of spirituality and the afterlife.”
Helping Parents Heal encourages parents to become “shining light parents,” she said.
“You progress from a bereaved parent to a shining light parent,” she said. “We shine for our kids. It’s just about love and healing. We try to go out in the world and try to be better people and live our lives as best we can.”
In addition to running the local chapter, Norris serves as an affiliate leader for Helping Parents Heal. In this role, she does orientation for parents who want to start a chapter in their area and helps them set up their own chapters.
While the group has helped in her healing process, the pain of losing Lee is still there and will never disappear, she said.
“It’s a lifelong process,” she said. “The missing is always there. You learn how to manage it. I still cry. I still miss.”
Some of her healing process involved writing.
“I’ve been a writer all my life,” she said.
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Norris has written chapters for several anthologies, including “Paws and Purpose.” Her chapter, “Ruby Returns” is about how her current dog, Fritz, came into her life. She plans to write two or three more chapters this year.
She also wrote a book about losing her son, “beLEEve: A Journey of Loss, Healing and Hope.”
“I decided to write the book to help other parents,” she said. “It was cathartic.”
The book is written in a journal format. In addition to sharing her story, Norris shares advice to help other parents come to terms with a devastating loss.
“I tell them, ‘You have a choice, too.”’ she said. “You have a choice to be the best that you can be to honor your child.”
More about Rosanne Norris
Hometown: Johnson City
Home: Beaver Lake in Windsor
Family: Husband, Tom. Five grown children and six grandchildren. Her middle son, Lee, died in 2018 and inspired his mother to start a local chapter of Helping Parents Heal.
Career: Retired from the marketing department of Binghamton University’s Anderson Center
If you need support: Helping Parents heal meets at 11 a.m. the first Saturday of every month at the Unity of Light Spiritual Center, 955 Main St., Vestal.
For more information: Go to helpingparentsheal.org/
Or call or email Rosanne Norris at (607) 759-3466 or rmnorris457@gmail.com
Read More About Her story: Rosanne Norris has written a book about her experiences after losing her adult son, Lee; to an accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. For more information, go here: https://www.amazon.com/beLEEve-Journey-Loss-Healing-Hope/dp/1951131053
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This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Binghamton's Helping Parents Heal chapter offers tools to cope
