Kelly Barnett created SoloSpouse, a step-by-step module to assist surviving partners in getting back on their feet.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Patrick and Kelly Barnett built their dream home on a Charlottesville hillside as a place to raise their family and create a lifetime of memories with children Colin and Bianca.

But in September 2015, life for the Barnetts changed in an instant.

Patrick, who had just retired as a JAG officer in the U.S. Military, fell from a ladder while working on his family’s property.

“I was literally five minutes from home,” Kelly Barnett said. “When I got home, I saw him. The ambulance hadn’t gotten here yet. In my heart of hearts, I knew he wasn’t going to survive.”

Patrick Barnett was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in a ceremony honoring his service. In the days that followed his death, Kelly said she struggled to move on without the man she loved.

They were horrific. They were paralyzing. They were isolating. They were very difficult to accept,” she said.

Like many people who’ve suffered an unexpected loss, Kelly Barnett said she found it difficult knowing where to turn for advice, comfort, and closure. While family and friends were a source of strength, she said there were many questions and concerns she encountered while trying to navigate life without a partner.

Source: Her husband died suddenly. Her grief pushed her to help others in his honor.