CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mother's Day is right around the corner, which means many of us will be showering mom with lots of love. But for Andrea Grier of Charlotte, it's a time of grief, as another holiday passes without her mother. 

What You Need To Know

  •  Mother's Day can be a time that brings grief for those who have lost a parent

  •  Mental health resources are out there if you need to talk after losing a loved one

  •  Mother's Day is observed Sunday in the United States

As she struggled with grief, Grier says easy tasks such as making a cup of coffee can become nearly impossible.

"All I wanted to do was lay in the bed. I had no desire to do anything," Grier said. 

Grier lost her husband and mother just 11 months apart. 

“The pain of losing a mother is unbearable," Grier said.

After the loss, she says she went on a downward spiral, isolating herself from both friends and family.

Looking at photos and pondering on memories were the only things that made her accept the fact that they were really gone. But now, years later, she has a new coping method.

With a jug of water and paper towels, she goes every week to the cemetery where her husband and mom lay to clean their gravestones.

Even if it’s something as small as replacing the flowers, she says it makes her feel at peace.

First she cleans her husband's grave, then walks a few steps over to her mom's.

“I clean his... after I clean his, I clean my mom, talk to my mom," Grier said.

She says the visits make her feel her mom is still there even if it means venting to the grave markers.

“Even though I’m dealing with the loss I still come and when I need someone to talk to — I just get it out,” she said.

Talking about it is often a stigma that surrounds mental health. It took grief for Grier to realize she isn’t the only one who may be hurting.

She and her daughter started a nonprofit called Life for the Hopeless Foundation. Together, they help others who don’t know how to deal with the loss by providing resources and a listening ear.

"We all have it [mental health challenges] and it’s nothing to be ashamed of... but you have to take a chance that there’s somebody that can help you, that there’s somebody that’s willing to help you," Grier said.

In honor of Mother’s Day, the foundation is offering one free counseling session.

To learn more about getting involved, visit lifeforthehopeless.org.