How They’re Coping After His Death

Content warning: This story contains discussion of suicide.

Jamie McPhee is figuring out her new normal.

Less than one week after her husband James Ransone died by suicide on Dec. 19 at the age of 46, Jamie shared how she is navigating the loss while parenting their kids Jack, 6, and Violet, 4. 

“They wanted ice cream after the park,” she posted on Instagram Dec. 23, explaining how she took them to a local mall. “Violet picked out a pink backpack. Jack made me buy and then build things at the Lego store.”

Jamie continued, “For the first time in my life, it was clear that people recognized me. I heard someone behind me in the food court say, ‘ask her.’”

And while the mom of two was grateful that strangers did not approach her about James’ passing, she said the experience made her realize how “you never really know what people are going through.”

“In many moments we looked…happy. Normal. Laughing. Smiling,” she wrote. “How? Not because we aren’t grieving. We are. But because I have two beautiful, incredible children who force me *daily* to see all the love and all the light that still exists inside of this.”