Our FCNI members, Dr. Edgar Montessa and Paula Staab Polk are content experts and are featured in a wonderful series called Grace in Grief: Hope After Loss, a series where people explore grief, bereavement, hope, and sustainment after losing loved ones. Produced by Family Theater Productions, this 7-part series can be used by individuals, faith communities, support groups, and the like to help others. Click here to access all 7 videos on YouTube (2024). Paula Staab Polk BS, RN has an extensive professional background in nursing, end-of-life services (as a funeral director and doula), event planning, and volunteering. She is passionate about helping and serving others during difficult transitions in their life by offering physical, psychological, and spiritual resources and support to the individual, family, and community. Paula moved in 2019 from Chatham, IL to Burbank, CA, and is a consultant, developing virtual programs for the homebound for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles; she is an active member at St. Finbar Church, in Burbank. Ms. Staab Polk is involved as a discussion leader for the Fiat Program on Faith and Mental Health through the University of Norte Dame’s McGrath Institute for Church Life. In this formation process, she plays an essential role in helping offer the Fiat Course to fellow men and women from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Edgar D. Montesa, DBA, MSN, RN, PHN, GERO-BC earned his Associate of Science in Nursing from West Coast University, Los Angeles, CA, Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Western Governors University, Salt Lake City, UT, and Master of Science in Nursing from Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, OK. He possesses a Doctorate in Business Administration with a major in Healthcare Management and Leadership, from California Intercontinental University, Irvine, CA. Prior to migrating to the US, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from Trinity University of Asia, and a Master of Arts from the University of the Philippines where he was also a PhD in Education (Educational Psychology) candidate. As a nurse, he has worked in the acute (medical-surgical/telemetry RN, case manager), long-term and intermediate care (charge nurse, RN supervisor), and home health (visiting nurse, case manager) settings. He has been an educator for more than 30 years in the Philippines, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, India, and the United States, teaching nursing courses at Allied Medical School of Nursing where he served as assistant director of nursing, American Medical Sciences Center, and Marian College where he served as vocational (practical) nursing program director. Currently, Edgar works as RN care manager at the US Department of Veterans Affairs, Los Angeles Ambulatory Care Center. Edgar is a member of the Health Ministry at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Eagle Rock, CA, Board-Member-at-Large for Faith Community Nurses International, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, and the National Society of Leadership and Success. Paula and Edgar at the Grace in Hope Screening, at St. Monica’s Catholic Church in Santa Monica, CA (October 27, 2024). Episode 1: Suddenly GoneEpisode 2: Gone Before Their TimeEpisode 3: Unresolved GriefEpisode 4: Mourning Our MatriarchEpisode 5: Celebrating a LifeEpisode 6: Community SupportEpisode 7: A Legacy of Hope |