Dena O’Neill

I became a survivor of suicide loss on November 30, 2010 when I lost my Dad.

I am the Secretary for Light after Loss and the owner of Bella Volpe Designs, where I make handcrafted leather jewelry and accessories. I worked as an Administrative Assistant and Commercial Real Estate Paralegal for many top-level executives throughout my career, but this creative outlet came at just the right time and pulled me out of a very dark place. After almost a decade with no counseling or trauma support, everything finally came to a head for me in the summer of 2020. A mutual friend introduced me to Shannon and I couldn’t get enough of her friendship and everything that LaL had to offer survivors of suicide loss.

All the pieces of this shattered existence I once had begun to form new life. I connected with an amazing counselor through a telehealth service and LaL took care of the rest. This has been the most challenging and the most rewarding experience of my life. My hope is to continue my journey in healing, but also walk with others because no one should have to walk this journey alone.

My husband Sean and I reside in Akron with our three dogs and enjoy cruising around in our 1950 Chevy.