GRAND RAPIDS, Mich — Not everyone can pack a room for their memorial.
Not everyone is Kathleen "Kathy" Buchanan.
"Kathy made you feel you were the only person she was helping. She was the only one she cared about. To go on Facebook and read all the stories people are telling, and realize she was doing that for other people as well," said Rachelle Sova, Vice President of the Maternal Wellness Program.
Kathy died at the age of 80 on October 22, 2023. She was the co-founder of the Maternal Wellness Program, impacting the lives of "thousands" of women dealing with postpartum depression, anxiety, grief and more.
"The suicide rate for postpartum is terrifying" said Crystina Emperor, one of Kathy's "Moms," "The amount of women who have been saved due to Kathy's work and the impact she made saved more lives than I think anyone ever will know."
Kathy called the women she worked with all her "Moms." At her memorial and funeral, many "Moms" showed up, wearing blue ribbons to visually show the impact she made.
"We all knew how special she was," said Beth Warloe, Kathy's daughter, "But to hear from other people how much she impacted them has just blown us away."
On Facebook, many people shared stories about how the nurse of 60 years helped them through postpartum.
"She was, in a sense, a mother to many women in the community," said Kirk Bierens, Kathy's son-in-law.
Her husband, William Buchanan, said he would often visit places like the bank and people would stop him to tell him Kathy helped them.
"Even if it meant leaving at 2 a.m. and go find somebody or help somebody," said William, "She was there."
Her work will continue on with the Maternal Wellness Program, helping new generations of women to come.
"We're only going to get better," said Sova, "Because how can you not after having someone like Kathy?"
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