Making it Make Sense: Why I Keep This Up

Not everyone understands why I’m doing this.

And honestly, that makes sense.

Grief isn’t something we spend a lot of time thinking about—until we have to. It can feel far away, like something that happens to other people. But the truth is, everyone knows someone who has carried grief. A parent. A friend. A coworker. A neighbour. And while we might not have walked through it ourselves - or may not be aware of our own grief - most of us have witnessed it. Quietly. From the sidelines.

Through my work as a funeral director, I’ve had the honour of walking a small stretch of the grief journey with hundreds of people. It’s made me more human. It’s shown me the strength, love, and resilience that people are capable of, even in the darkest moments of their lives. And it’s those moments—those people—that fuel this mission. Those moments are where my heart lives.

That’s why I started Lean on Me.

I believe that everyone, regardless of income, location, or circumstance, deserves support when grief hits. I know, without a doubt, that we can build a better system—one that sees grief not as a private burden, but as a shared human experience.

I’m learning how to bring people along for the journey. I’m learning how to turn passion into momentum. Because real change doesn’t happen all at once—it’s built, slowly, by people who keep showing up.

And that’s what I’m doing: showing up. For the people who’ve already experienced grief. For the ones who haven’t yet, but will. For the families who feel forgotten. For the communities who pull together when a loss hits hard.

If you’re someone who believes in kindness, in connection, in community—then you already believe in what we’re doing.

This work is about more than grief. It’s about love and it's about empowerment. It’s about building a province that wraps around people when they need it most. And it’s about doing it together.

Thanks for being here. I'm just getting started—and I’m so glad you’re part of it. I see the number of views on this blog ticking upward, one by one. And I'm thankful, because change doesn't always happen with a bang. Sometimes change happens quietly.

Yours,

Jes Knoop

Founder