A Saskatchewan counsellor with ties to the Prince Albert area has turned a deeply personal experience of loss and mentorship into a memoir that reflects on grief, resilience and the lasting impact one person can have on another.
Shelley Fraser is the author of “The Morning I Walked Her Home,” a book inspired by the relationship she shared with a Catholic sister who helped guide her through difficult moments growing up.
Fraser said the story is rooted in experiences from her youth in the northern Saskatchewan community of Debden, about an hour from Prince Albert.
“When I was growing up the first 10 years I lived in Debden, even though my mother is originally from Prince Albert. We lived in Debden and there was a convent there,” Fraser said.
Fraser said the sister who inspired the book first entered her life while she was a student going through a difficult time after her parents separated. Living with her grandfather and dealing with family challenges, Fraser said one of her teachers, a Catholic sister, took an interest in her well being and became an important mentor.
“I was fortunate enough to have a mentor that really helped me through some pretty difficult times growing up,” Fraser said.
Fraser recalled that during one particularly difficult period in her youth, the support she received from the sisters at the convent made a lasting impression on her life.
“The sister who mentored me was the one who believed in me. She praised me,” Fraser said.
The cover of “The Morning I Walked Her Home,” a memoir by Saskatchewan author Shelley Fraser reflecting on grief, mentorship and healing.Version 1.0.0
The two stayed connected for a number of years before eventually losing contact for more than a decade as Fraser moved forward with her education and career in teaching and counselling.
Years later, while working in education, Fraser learned through one of her students that the sister she once knew was living at Mount St.
Joseph’s in Prince Albert. The discovery prompted her to reconnect with the woman who had played such an important role in her life.
Fraser said the first visits were emotional after so many years apart, but the connection gradually returned as they spent time together.
“As time went on and we spent more time together, that connection started to come back,” she said.
During that time Fraser also learned the sister had developed dementia and was nearing the end of her life. Spending time with her during those final months became a powerful experience that stayed with Fraser long afterward.
“When you lose that connection you kind of feel lost. You feel like you’ve lost your person,” she said.
The memoir reflects on those final visits and the memories that resurfaced as Fraser reconnected with the mentor who helped shape her early life. Fraser said the story is also about recognizing the importance of relationships that guide people through difficult moments.
Through her professional work as a counsellor, Fraser said she has seen how people experience grief in different ways and often struggle to process loss.
“Everybody’s experience of loss is different. It’s not all the same,” Fraser said.
Fraser said she hopes the book encourages readers to talk openly about grief and to seek support rather than trying to cope with loss alone.
“Don’t use substances to cover that pain. Talk to others and get the counselling you need to go through the process,” she said.
Although the story is deeply personal, Fraser said early responses from readers suggest the themes of mentorship, resilience and healing resonate with many people.
For Fraser, writing the memoir was also a way of honouring the mentor who helped guide her through one of the most difficult periods of her life.
“It really shows how one person can change the direction of a life,” she said.
Fraser’s book “The Morning I Walked Her Home” is available for purchase online.
arjun.pillai@paherald.sk.ca
