Five women were honored by State Farm Life Insurance Company for their contributions to their families, communities and society following the loss of their spouses. Read their stories below.
Elaine Cook, Spring Hill, Tenn., lost her husband of 14 years, Stan Cook, to a massive heart attack. While grieving and piecing her life back together, Elaine drew on her experiences and her training as an accountant to help other widows learn about the importance of financial planning and how to cope with loss. Her non-profit grief and support organization, Widow2Widow, has grown to more than 400 chapters in 20 states.
Irma Gonzalez Galvan, Houston, Texas, was widowed after her husband, Louis Galvan, had been robbed and murdered. Left alone to care for four children, she was laid off from her job and couldn't make ends meet even after finding new employment. To support her family, Irma made a bold move and opened her own business, a sandwich shop. After years of hard work, Irma's sandwich shop is now Houston’s legendary "Irma's Mexican Restaurant."
Julie Jones, Ft. Worth, Texas, lost her husband, Brent Jones, just before Christmas in 2003, when they were involved in a head-on collision with a drunk driver. It took Julie months to recover from her serious injuries, during which time she had to care for her infant twin babies. During the emotional and physical healing process, Julie realized that while she couldn't bring Brent back, she could help others. She became a representative of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and speaks regularly to organizations across the state.
Debra Kiser, Cleveland, Wis., lost her husband, Army Staff Sergeant Chuck Kiser, was killed in Iraq in 2004. As she and her family grieved, Debra realized that there was a huge need to help families in the Armed Forces, especially children, with the healing process. In 2004 she started "Being There, Reaching Out" to offer peer support and conduct memorials for military families in Wisconsin.
Alissa Torres, New York, N.Y., lost her husband, Eddie Torres, on his second day of work in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. Eight months pregnant, Alissa found solace in writing about her experiences and feelings. Her literary work helped her preserve the legacy of her husband and find her voice. Today, she continues to use her writing as a way to reach and inspire others. Her first book, American Widow, will be published in 2008.
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Elaine Cook, Spring Hill, Tenn., lost her husband of 14 years, Stan Cook, to a massive heart attack. While grieving and piecing her life back together, Elaine drew on her experiences and her training as an accountant to help other widows learn about the importance of financial planning and how to cope with loss. Her non-profit grief and support organization, Widow2Widow, has grown to more than 400 chapters in 20 states.
Irma Gonzalez Galvan, Houston, Texas, was widowed after her husband, Louis Galvan, had been robbed and murdered. Left alone to care for four children, she was laid off from her job and couldn't make ends meet even after finding new employment. To support her family, Irma made a bold move and opened her own business, a sandwich shop. After years of hard work, Irma's sandwich shop is now Houston’s legendary "Irma's Mexican Restaurant." 
Julie Jones, Ft. Worth, Texas, lost her husband, Brent Jones, just before Christmas in 2003, when they were involved in a head-on collision with a drunk driver. It took Julie months to recover from her serious injuries, during which time she had to care for her infant twin babies. During the emotional and physical healing process, Julie realized that while she couldn't bring Brent back, she could help others. She became a representative of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and speaks regularly to organizations across the state. 
Debra Kiser, Cleveland, Wis., lost her husband, Army Staff Sergeant Chuck Kiser, was killed in Iraq in 2004. As she and her family grieved, Debra realized that there was a huge need to help families in the Armed Forces, especially children, with the healing process. In 2004 she started "Being There, Reaching Out" to offer peer support and conduct memorials for military families in Wisconsin. 
Alissa Torres, New York, N.Y., lost her husband, Eddie Torres, on his second day of work in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. Eight months pregnant, Alissa found solace in writing about her experiences and feelings. Her literary work helped her preserve the legacy of her husband and find her voice. Today, she continues to use her writing as a way to reach and inspire others. Her first book, American Widow, will be published in 2008.