Writing Brings Comfort and Hope
By Darla Dickenson
June 30, 2005

A book of Hope from an author that has dealt with grief, works with grief and has lived in Hope and area. As a former resident of Hope and Boston Bar, she recalls the loss of a dear friend Carol, and ambulance driver; her husband Andrew Lacoursiere, a paramedic, and the struggles they overcame.

"Hope has become a special word in my life. Of course I lived in the town of Hope for twelve years! But it is a way of life, to hope for the future, hope for our children, and to bring hope to others," says Grace Wulff, in her book A Journey of Hope.

The book begins with Grace's story of growing up in Harrison Hot Springs and Agassiz and her wedding day when she was in her late teens. It then goes into the story of her grandmother who is conveyed to the readers as a great pillar of strength for the author. Grace's grandmother was raised in a Mennontite family and had to face the discrimination of having a child out of wedlock, she later married a young man who died of TB when she was pregnant with their third child.

The book also delves into her first husband's life, Andrew Lacoursiere, and the tragic death of his parents when he was fifteen, his years following the loss, his marriage to Grace and then his own death. "Hope is usually birthed in difficult times, when we grope in the dark for answers and look for reasons to carry on," says Wulff. The book was something that I wanted to write for a long time. I wanted to write my grandmother's story as well as Andrews. I hope my own story of grief would help other people who are grieving. Life can be hard and sometimes it doesn't turn out the way you plan.The book conveys how I learned to cope with that, says Wulff. There is an annual bursary awarded to a HSS graduate in Lacoursiere' name. "I wanted his memory to carry on in the area and for my children's sake," says Wulff. Grace's son graduated from HSS in 1996. "The book is about Hope, and I felt like it was meant to be written," says Wulff. Visit www.gracewulff.com/book.htm

Reprinted with permission from the Hope Standard .