Losing a Spouse to Suicide: Judy Smith on Grief and Love

Losing a Spouse to Suicide: Judy Smith on Love & Grief ⚠️ Heads up: this episode talks openly about suicide loss and grief. If that's not something you have the capacity for right now, it's okay to skip this one. In this episode of Wake Up Sunshine, Paige Major and Jenna Williams sit down with Judy Smith for a raw, tender conversation about love, loss, and what life actually looks like after losing a spouse to suicide. Judy met her husband Jeremiah in college when she was 19, and they spent nearly two decades together. She talks about the man he was — unconditionally loving, generous to strangers, the kind of person who lived by "treat others how they want to be treated." And she walks us through the hardest parts too: his long struggle, the chronic pain condition that took over the end of his life, the night he died, and the fog of grief that followed. This isn't a tidy, wrapped-up story about coping with loss. Judy is real about the guilt, the anger, the brain chemistry that changes overnight, and who actually showed up for her versus who didn't. And she's just as real about the other side of it — healing after loss, finding her support people, and deciding that Jeremiah was her first love but he won't be her last. Yep, she's dating again, and she's got stories. If you're grieving a spouse's death, navigating widowhood, wondering what dating after loss of a spouse even looks like, or you just love a raw and human conversation, then this video is for you. Whether you're a young widow yourself or you love someone who is, Judy's story on love after loss will stay with you. 💛 If you're struggling, you're not alone — you can call or text 988 (the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) anytime, 24/7. ________________________________ 🩷 CONNECT WITH JUDY   / thejudysmith   https://bringingsimplicity.com    / @bringingsimplicity   🎙️ABOUT THE SHOW Wake Up, Sunshine is the friend who shows up, throws open the curtains, and reminds you that you're allowed to want more. Hosted by cousins Paige Major and Jenna Williams, it's real conversations for women in the middle of becoming — through growth, healing, spirituality, identity, and the big life transitions nobody hands you a map for. Every week, we sit down with women who've moved through something and come out more themselves on the other side. Come for the story, stay because you feel a little less alone. ☀️🩵 CONNECT WITH US 🌐 Weekly sunshine mail: https://wakeupsunshine.co 📸 Instagram:   / wakeupsunshinepodcast   Enjoyed this episode? Help us grow our community — share it with a friend who'd connect with the conversation, and follow, subscribe, rate, or leave a review wherever you listen. DISCLAIMER Wake Up, Sunshine is for inspiration and entertainment. We share our own stories and opinions, and our guests share theirs — none of it is professional advice. Nothing here is legal, medical, financial, or mental health advice, and it's not a substitute for care from a qualified professional. Jenna is an attorney, but she is not your attorney, and nothing shared on this show creates an attorney-client relationship. Please make your own decisions with the right support for your situation. This description may contain affiliate links. If you buy through one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — we only share things we actually love.