Writing songs helps in journey through grief

Jill Chandler's songs reflect her journey through grief after losing her husband to cancer in 2013.

'I feel like he's watching me from above and I hope that he's proud of me'

Nancy Russell CBC News Posted: Nov 19, 2015 8:00 AM EST | Last Updated: November 19, 2015

Singer/songwriter Jill Chandler came back to music after her husband's death in 2013. (Dana Herron)

The days are getting longer

My smile's coming back

It's been a really difficult year

Jill Chandler's songs reflect her journey through grief after losing her husband to cancer in 2013. Chandler sang professionally in Charlottetown and Halifax, but left music behind when she became a mom. Now she has returned to songwriting as a way of healing.

Jill Chandler and her husband Donald Glencross in Quebec City in September 2012, 8 months before his diagnosis.

Chandler's husband, Donald Glencross, was a photographer who often travelled for months at a time. He returned home from a trip in May2013, and was obviously ill.

Chandler took him to Dartmouth General where they found white spots on his brain. A biopsy revealed it was melanoma that had spread to his brain. He died on July 9, just six weeks later.

Everything just changed in a heartbeat
Don't know if I'll be the same
But it's not all for naught
'Cause the kids that I got
Will help me live life again

Healing through music

9 years ago

1:31

Jill Chandler returned to songwriting after the death of her husband in 2013

Jill Chandler and her threechildren moved back to P.E.I.to be closer to family and friends. She was asked to sing at a benefitin the spring of 2014.

"That started to open the doors again for me and my songwriting," explained Chandler.

I am just learning who I am again. Jill Chandler, singer/songwriter

"The guitar and songwriting have always been a great companion for me so I guess I picked it up again when I was most in need of a friend.

"It became clear that writing music is a very healing thing for me to do," continued Chandler.

"The writing is one part, but [also] sharing it and being vulnerable and letting people in to my thoughts or my sadness."

In October, Chandler started recording her songs on her phone and posting them. The songs were shared, some of them thousands of times, and now Chandler has been approached to put together a CD.

Jill Chandler taken by friend sang professionally in Charlottetown and Halifax, but left music behind when she became a mom. (Dana Herron)

Emma Fugatewas moved by the music, and is about to launch a crowdfunding campaignto help Chandlerproduce an EP.

"Hearing her music I felt like the universe was trying to tell mesomething,that this was something I should be doing,helping her," saidFugate.

Chandler said the songwriting is part of a learning process.

"I am just learning who I am again," said Chandler.

"Donald is a big contributor to who I am and who I've become. And his loss is also a big contributor.

"I feel like he's watching me from above and I hope that he's proud of me. And I'm going to do it for him. And I'm going to do it for me. And I'm also going to do it for my kids."

I gotta stay strong

I'll keep singing my songs

Gonna sing them proud for you

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