AimeeJo Davis-Varela

AimeeJo was widowed in 2020 when her partner of 19 years died from a
rare cancer related to her military service. Her late partner, Vanessa,
was deemed terminal at the time of diagnosis, and AimeeJo had the honor
of being her caregiver during her final months.

This will be AimeeJo’s fifth Camp Widow. She is honored to serve on the
Soaring Spirits’ LGBTQ+ steering committee and to facilitate the
twice-monthly Love, Sex, and Relationships After Loss Group for LGBTQ+
widows as a Soaring Spirits Regional Group Leader.

She graduated from Antioch University with a master’s degree in clinical
psychology after completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a
minor in holocaust, genocide, and peace studies. She received her Grief
Support Specialist certification from University of Wisconsin-Madison
and holds certificates in Compassionate Grief Work, Grief and
Bereavement, Resilience Coaching, Grief Coaching, Group Facilitation,
and Trauma-Informed Somatic Healing and Integration.

AimeeJo lives in Ventura County where she provides grief support and
rebuilding and resilience coaching through Healing After Loss with
AimeeJo, organizes activities for the LGBTQ+ community, and volunteers
in the LGBTQ+ and widowed communities.