Life changing events like divorce or the death of a spouse can have a huge impact on the entire family, especially for children who have lost a mother or a father. But having someone with a big heart like that of Connie Taylor of Milwaukee can make it easier.  She has dedicated her life to the passion of helping others, throughout her career as a nurse, nun or as founder of  My Good Mourning Place (MGMP)*.

In 2002, when Connie and two others started MGMP, Connie knew she had finally fulfilled her desire to be an advocate for children. Two years earlier,she had joined a group which, had started the Kyle’s Korner grieving center in Milwaukee. Even though Kyle's Korner was serving children and families who lost a significant person in their lives, Connie felt that more needed to be done. Moved by her own experience of loss and the urge to be around and help children, she decided to start MGMP.

“Children are too young to have to go thought the lot that they do, and it’s important for us to be here for them and help them to move on without forgetting the person they lost,” explains Connie. Connie meets with the children and teens every Tuesday, at the center to speak with them openly and safely about their feelings. She tries her best to listen to them. “It’s important to listen to what they say and to what they don’t say. Kids hurt in all sorts of ways and it is important to make them understand that the anger inside them needs to come out and that is what we are here for.”

Connie’s passion for helping others started early on. She always felt like she wanted to make a difference in the world. This passion drove her to leave her hometown in Ohio and move to Milwaukee to join the Deaconesses. She later became a Catholic and joined the School Sister of St. Francis. Shortly thereafter, she obtained her undergraduate and Master’s degrees in nursing and psychology and started working as a nurse at Sacred Heart.

What keeps Connie motivitaed? Connie explains that "the feeling you get when you see progress with kids makes all the hardwork worthwhile." She gave the example of an eight year old boy that did his best to push her buttons and make her angry. Connie came to realize that the boy’s behavior was simply an attempt to get her attention, albeit in a negative way.  He did not know any better.  So what did she do?  She sat down with the boy and apologized for not listening.  With this simple act, Connie was able to make a connection with the boy and make siginificant progress.  “It was like a fresh start for the both of us. A wonderful experience that was very rewarding for me personally.”

Starting with only two kids, MGMP went on to help more than 183 kids overcome their grief.  This is something that Connie is very proud of. She and her professional team strive to do their very best for the community and are hoping to bring in more people that are in need of help. More recently, Connie has started adult group sessions for parents that are grieving.

Connie’s giving and unconditional loving nature inspires many of us, and her service to the community has given and continues to give hope to many. Her passion has truly made her an American Inspired hero in Milwaukee.

*My Good Mourning Place is a bereavement center especially designed to help children,teens and adults cope with the death of a loved one. The services are volunteer-based and free to the families served. MGMP is located on Milwaukee's south side and serve all of southeastern Wisconsin. If interested in joining, volunteering or donating to the organization, please contact Connie Taylor at 414-719-5385.