An exploration of the often-overlooked grief experienced by those who support the bereaved, highlighting how supporters carry their own emotional weight while standing beside loss and the importance of acknowledging their experiences with compassion.
Verified Member
Influential Woman · Nonprofit
Shawna Camilleri
Founder and Director, Keenan's Caring Konnections, LLC
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33412
1Article published
2Awards received
Her Story
About Shawna
Shawna Camilleri is a nonprofit founder, community advocate, and grief support leader dedicated to helping bereaved parents and their families navigate loss with compassion and connection. Based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, she is the founder of Keenan’s Caring Konnections, an organization she created following the loss of her son after 196 days in the hospital.
Through Keenan’s Caring Konnections, Shawna has built a growing community that offers free support groups, coffee chats, and wellness-centered gatherings for bereaved parents and the people who support them. Her work focuses not only on those experiencing loss, but also on the often-overlooked supporters—helping families, friends, and communities better understand how to show up during grief.
In addition to her work in grief support, Shawna has spent years engaged in philanthropy, mentorship, and community outreach, including founding Shawna’s Basket Brigade, which has served thousands of families and veterans in need throughout South Florida. She brings a unique combination of lived experience and compassionate leadership to her work, creating spaces where grief is acknowledged, connection is fostered, and no one feels alone.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Shawna
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my ability to keep going to my son. I truly believe he would want me to continue living in a way that reflects who he was—full of life, full of energy, and full of impact. Carrying his name forward through this work feels like a way to honor him and allow his legacy to live on in a meaningful way.
I also remember something my aunt shared with me on my first Mother’s Day without him. She simply said, “You are still a mother.” That stayed with me. It’s a reminder that even though a child may not be here physically, that identity never goes away.
Along with that, I’ve come to understand that there is a real need for this work—especially when it comes to supporting not only bereaved parents, but the people around them. That purpose, combined with my son’s legacy, is what continues to drive me forward.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I’ve received is to stay true to your purpose, even when it doesn’t follow a traditional path. The most meaningful work often doesn’t look conventional, and it doesn’t always come with a clear roadmap. I’ve learned that when you lead with authenticity and focus on truly serving others, the impact will follow.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be ready for the rejection, but have a thick skin, and believe in yourself, and believe in what you stand for and what your mission is. Nonprofit work comes with a lot of rejection, so you need to be prepared for that while staying true to your purpose.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
My advice would be to stay grounded in your purpose, especially if your work is rooted in something personal. There can be a delicate balance between your own experience and holding space for others, and that emotional weight is real.
Grief work, in particular, is not linear—and building something within that space comes with unique challenges. You may encounter discomfort, both in yourself and in others, as people navigate emotions they’re not always used to facing. It’s important to honor that while still creating structure and consistency in what you’re building.
Growing something from the ground up can also feel uncertain at times, especially when it’s so closely tied to your heart. My advice is to move thoughtfully, stay aligned with your values, and trust that meaningful work takes time. When it’s built with intention and care, it will reach the people who need it.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are compassion, authenticity, and creating a space where people feel truly seen and supported. I believe deeply that grief looks different for everyone, and it’s important to honor that without judgment. My goal is to create an environment where individuals feel they have a place to go and know they are not alone.
I also value the understanding that motherhood and parenthood do not disappear with loss. Whether or not a child is here physically, that identity remains, and it deserves to be acknowledged and respected.
At the core of my work is honoring my son’s life in a way that brings meaning and support to others. Carrying his name forward through this work is something I hold very close.
In both my personal and professional life, I also value balance—being present for my three young children, staying involved in their school, and making time for activities that help me process and recharge, like gardening, biking, running, and swimming.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Shawna
The Side of Grief We Don’t Talk About: The Emotional Weight Carried by Supporters
The quiet burden of being present for those who grieve, and why their support matters too.
The Side of Grief We Don’t Talk About: Supporting Those Who Support the Bereaved
Grief is often viewed through a singular lens.
We think of the mother who has lost a child.
The father navigating unimaginable absence.
The family learning to live with a reality they never expected.
And while that grief is real, deep, and deserving of every ounce of support, it is not the only grief in the room.
There is another layer that often goes unseen.
The friend who doesn’t know what to say.
The family member trying to stay strong.
The coworker who wants to help but feels unsure how.
The grandparent, sibling, or neighbor quietly carrying the weight of witnessing someone else’s pain.
These individuals are often the quiet supporters standing beside grief every day.
And while their grief may look different, it is still very real.
The Discomfort Around Grief
One of the most common things I’ve noticed in my work is how uncomfortable grief makes people feel.
Not because they don’t care — but because they do.
They care deeply.
They want to help.
They don’t want to say the wrong thing.
So instead, they pause.
They hesitate.
Sometimes, they stay silent altogether.
But silence, especially in the context of loss, can feel louder than anything else.
The Pressure to “Get It Right”
Supporters often carry an invisible pressure.
They feel like they need to:
- Say the perfect thing
- Show up in the perfect way
- Somehow ease the pain
And when they don’t know how to do that, they begin to question themselves.
“Am I doing enough?”
“Did I say the wrong thing?”
“Should I reach out… or give them space?”
This internal dialogue can be exhausting.
Over time, it can even lead to emotional withdrawal — not because they don’t care, but because they feel unsure of how to exist in the space of someone else’s grief.
Grief Is Not Linear — For Anyone
We often say that grief is not linear for those experiencing loss.
But the same is true for those supporting them.
There are moments when supporters feel strong, present, and capable.
And there are moments when they feel overwhelmed, uncertain, and emotionally drained.
Both are normal.
Yet they are rarely acknowledged.
Holding Space Without Losing Yourself
One of the most important things supporters can understand is this:
You do not have to fix the grief.
You do not have to have the perfect words.
You do not have to carry it all.
What matters most is presence.
A simple message.
A quiet check-in.
A willingness to acknowledge what feels uncomfortable.
“I’m thinking of you.”
“I don’t have the right words, but I’m here.”
These are often the most meaningful things you can say.
The Need for Support for Supporters
In many cases, supporters are expected to be strong.
They are the ones holding others up.
The ones checking in.
The ones showing up.
But who holds space for them?
Who allows them to process what they are feeling?
Who reminds them that it is okay not to have all the answers?
This is a gap that exists in nearly every grief experience.
And it is one that deserves more attention.
Creating Spaces Where Everyone Is Seen
Through my work, I’ve learned that grief is not something that can be placed into a single category.
It affects individuals, families, and entire communities.
And if we truly want to support those navigating loss, we have to widen the lens.
We have to acknowledge:
- The bereaved
- The supporters
- And everyone in between
Creating spaces where all of these experiences are seen, heard, and validated is what leads to deeper connection and understanding.
Moving Forward With Compassion
Grief is not something we “get over.”
It is something we learn to live with.
And in that process, the way we show up for one another matters more than we realize.
If you are a supporter:
You are allowed to feel what you feel.
You are allowed not to have all the answers.
You are allowed to need support too.
And if you are someone navigating loss:
You deserve to be surrounded by people who are not afraid to be there for you.
A Final Thought
There is no perfect way to navigate grief.
But there is a human way.
And that begins with honesty, compassion, and the willingness to sit in uncomfortable moments together.
Because no one — on either side of grief — should feel like they are navigating it alone.
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