Widow of fallen Moncton Mountie offering support to those who have lost a spouse

The widow of one of three Moncton Mounties shot and killed in the line of duty is reaching out to other people who have lost their spouses in hopes of helping them cope.

READ MORE: Wives of fallen Moncton Mounties reveal personal touches to monument

Nadine Larche is helping to launch a new Moncton chapter of the widow support group called “Soaring Spirits.”

“If I can help somebody else see that there is joy and happiness at the end of this road yeah I think that is probably a good thing,” said Larche as she sipped on a coffee in her sun porch on Wednesday with her new friend Christelle Leger.

The two widows met at the Three Father’s Memorial Run this past summer honouring the three Moncton Mounties shot and killed on June 4th, 2014. Larche’s husband Cst. Doug Larche was one of the fallen officers.

READ MORE: Monument celebrating lives of fallen RCMP officers unveiled in Moncton

“I lost my husband almost five years ago. He had a heart attack while playing hockey,” said Leger, who was part of the Fredericton Soaring Spirits group before moving to Moncton two years ago.

Leger asked Larche if she would help her start a group to help widows in Moncton too

“It’s important to have hope and to know that you are not alone.”

Larche said the unwavering support from family and friends and a national support group for families of fallen first responders have all helped her finally find peace

“I have learned that it is ok to admit that you are not ok because for the longest time I tried to fake it,” said Larche.

READ MORE: Widow of fallen Moncton RCMP officer leaves mark on Mountie memorial

But she said she struggled to find a support group in Moncton where she would connect with widows her own age, which is why she is taking part in the group.

Larche said the two and a half years since she lost her husband have been a struggle “It’s not something that I would wish on anyone, it’s difficult.”

She hopes by sharing her own story that she can help other widows learn to laugh again, like she has.

This, she said, is also her opportunity to give back to a community who rallied around her after Doug’s shocking death.

READ MORE: Saint John marathon honours fallen Mountie Cst. Doug Larche

“I definitely don’t think that things happen for a reason because there is no reason that Doug was murdered,” said Larche.

But maybe she said some good can come out of her loss.

The group will meet in Moncton for the first time on Nov. 23rd.

READ MORE: Trees planted in Moncton neighbourhood in memory of slain RCMP officers