Mark Alderman was one of her subjects. McIntyre expected it to end after 10 weeks. Keeney was the daughter of Traverse City pioneer Perry Hannah, and her fund was set up to support children s services offered at Munson Medical Center. The money pays for supplies and salaries. McIntyre estimates about 700 children have been served by the group in its 16 years.
Groups also meet on an as-needed basis at both Traverse City junior high schools.
McIntyre, whose own father died when she was 15, believes her personal experience helps her do her job. While many might see it as a sad one, she has another perspective. Grief can be a strong teacher of what we value in life, she says. I don t want to discredit the sadness of the loss, but it s also an opportunity, too. Death teaches us how to be more alive.