Susan M Harriman Smelser

The Scent of Yellow Roses Susan M Harriman Smelser

On a cool dry evening in March 1994, twenty-year-old Jennifer went out to a birthday party. She never returned home. In the middle of the night, policemen were calling and knocking at the door. They had to deliver the worst news a parent can hear. Jenny was never coming home again.




After the shock comes survival. How does a family go on? Some survive better than others. This is a true story of one woman's attempt at enduring the pain that comes with the loss of a child and the slow but steady loss of a marriage.




This is a story that spans more than twenty years. It is a case study in grief and the impact it has on a family over time. Just one moment, one decision, the timing of a traffic light, a missed exit, or even a couple's wedding date, can change a family's life forever. May this book of letters let you know that you are not alone in grief, and that sometimes faith, hope and purpose are all you need to survive.