East Hanover woman honors late mom in new COVID book
May 13, 2022 10:24AM ● By Jillian Risberg
Two years in, omnipresent Coronavirus has left a trail of devastation in its wake, so Jean Sime and Brenda Cortez wanted to ensure that all those lost to the dreadful disease didn’t die in vain.
And it was personal: When COVID took motivational speaker Sime’s beloved sister Vivian, she collaborated with bestselling author Cortez (with whom she had worked on an organ donation book) to come up with Voices-19, Their Legacies Live On.
Dina Kess says she was thankful to have been picked to be part of this beautiful tribute.
“It means the world to me to be able to shine a light on the devastation that COVID brought to my family and how it took my mom,” says Kess. “Many of us were not fortunate enough to escape the horrors of COVID unscathed.”
Anastasia Koiveroglou, 67, passed on May 31, 2020.
According to Kess, she got sick in April and fought for over a month and a half.
And she lost her dad to cancer on March 25, 2016.
“They both inspire me,” Kess says. “I feel like they would want me to always do the best I can in everything. They are my inspiration.”
There are 19 stories in the book, a collection of different combinations of people — either losing a parent, spouse, sibling or child.
“It was incredibly difficult to write,” Kess says many tears were shed writing the chapter about her mom. “I was honored to be able to share her beautiful life with the world.”
When it comes to that kind of loss, author Susan Wiggs said: “There is something about losing a mother that is permanent and inexpressible — a wound that will never quite heal.”
They expect to release the book April 26, 2022.
She feels it’s incredibly important to share with the public.
“So they may see our loved ones were not just a number,” says Kess, who has amazing recollections of her mom. “They were loved and they are missed.”
She loved traveling to Greece with her, where Kess’ grandparents had a big garden and her mom would pick vegetables and cook delicious meals.
The two shared a beautiful bond.
“Memories of helping and watching her in the kitchen, taking me everywhere I wanted to go and vacations in Greece,” Kess says recent memories include: going to casinos together, shopping, dinner or taking small trips. “My mom was so much fun.”
She carries those precious moments close to her heart.
And trusts that the stories in Voices of all whose normal was ripped from them deeply resonates.
“I hope people will understand that this virus ended hopes, dreams and tore families apart. Our loved ones were not just a statistic,” says Kess.
The past few years have been overwhelming.
And Kess is baffled by the reaction of many to the pandemic.
"The way they downplayed the virus and ‘it’s only 2%’ line was challenging to hear,” Kess says she highly doubts they would say that if they lost a loved one. “What’s encouraged me is the love and support from COVID groups I am part of and the reassurance that there are still many good people with compassion.”
As US COVID deaths inch toward one million, it couldn’t be more comforting — to have a loving hand extended from those who have also grappled with unthinkable loss.
The payment poster at a specialty risk transfer, care-coordination company had never written anything before for a book and says she learned to detail her emotions better.
“It’s crazy because I have all these feelings inside and putting them into words isn’t as easy as it may sound,” says Kess. “It’s helped me express myself better.”
Hostility has been at an all-time high during the pandemic, with many lashing out and even resorting to violent attacks against others.
Going forward Kess wishes people would be more understanding and sympathetic of others during trying times.
“The pandemic was very difficult for many people,” she says. “I feel as a society, we could have done better in many aspects. I try to stay positive and not be bothered by ignorant comments or situations — but it can be challenging.”
Kess is not sure what she may do in the future in regard to writing.
But she knows one thing is certain…
“I will continue to memorialize my mom every chance I get,” says Kess. “She deserves to be remembered.”
To learn more about the book, visit
