Patti Kimball learned about grief early in life. At the age of fourteen, her best friend Aprile died suddenly from a congenital heart condition. Aprile was a light in Patti’s life and a pillar of her community; she was brave, kind, and sensitive to the needs of people she cared about. Her absence was deeply felt by her friends and family.

Left to cope with Aprile’s tragic loss during her most formative and tender years, Patti became resilient by following Aprile’s example. Patti nurtured her own grief, allowing herself to feel and show emotions without shame. She also nurtured those around her, maintaining a close group of friends who supported her throughout her life. But her journey wasn’t easy; Patti’s grief was raw, real, and emotional. People weren’t always kind to her as she mourned her beloved friend, and she was forced to learn the power of forgiveness.

Lush with nostalgic 1980s images and by turns sweet, funny, and heartbreaking, Siren, On Repeat: What My Best Friend’s Death Taught Me About Hope and Grief is a unique memoir that heals through storytelling. By sharing her own experiences through relatable and eye-opening anecdotes, the author offers healing and hope to both herself and the reader, shining a light onto a dark path and honouring the memory of a cherished girl who did so much with her short life.

Born and raised in Peterborough, Ontario, Patti Kimball has felt the call to help others throughout her life. Her completion of the Social Service Worker program gave her a solid base; from there, she has worked as a Practical Nurse with a focus on community nursing, an Emotional Health Practitioner, and a certified Mindset and Emotional Wellness Coach trained in the Emotional Wellness Technique. Helping others to achieve emotional wellness is her passion in life.

Patti lives in Bridgenorth, Ontario, with her husband Dave, daughters Robyn and Morgan, and their dog Gracie.