You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know
Supporting older adults and their caregivers means preparing for more than just the expected. This session explores how unspoken wishes, scattered information, and lack of planning can increase stress and trauma during life transitions. Learn how to help caregivers and families create clear, compassionate plans that preserve dignity, reduce chaos, and offer peace of mind. Grounded in wellness and prevention, this conversation empowers caregivers with the tools and education they need to care for both themselves and their loved ones.
Date June 25, 2025
Hosted By WellMed Charitable Foundation
Esther Pipoly
On July 29 2014 Esther Cardenas buried her father. Little did she know that less than three months later she would be burying her husband of 26 years as well.
“At my father’s funeral my husband said he didn’t feel well” recalls Cardenas. “He was diagnosed with a malignant mass 14 days later and he died just 49 days after his diagnosis. It was that quick.”
Now a widow and a single mother Cardenas found herself tasked with settling not just one but two estates all while she was in what she refers to as “grief paralysis.” It was an overwhelming process and one that taught her a lot of life lessons--lessons that she hopes no one else has to learn the hard way. That’s why she created Loss of Life Advocates (LOLA) a business designed to serve as a light during one of the darkest times of life. With services that range from grief recovery consulting guidance on vital document gathering assistance in closing down estates or businesses and employer and employee training and counseling LOLA is a one-stop shop for those people preparing for or dealing with the loss of a loved one. There is even an extensive referral list that includes everything from funeral homes and hospice care to attorneys and financial planners to pet and child care just to name a few.