LKNConnect’s Featured Businesses are chosen for their outstanding customer service, unique offerings, and meaningful contributions to the Lake Norman community. Selection is based on reader recommendations, consistent quality, and participation in local events, spotlighting those who truly enrich the area
From Entrepreneur to Empathic Counselor
For most of her life, Monica Lucia Hoffman has been an entrepreneur — building, creating, and leading her own businesses since the age of 18. With two patents to her name and a successful career in medical supplies, she spent decades helping physicians and patients live healthier, more independent lives. But when loss entered her own, everything changed.
The Moment That Changed Everything
After the passing of her husband, Monica faced a crossroads that no amount of business success could prepare her for. The confusion, the paperwork, and the pain that families face after losing a loved one revealed a gap she couldn’t ignore. “I wanted to make sure there wasn’t one family that didn’t know what to do after their loved one passed,” she says. “Grief is challenging enough — what to do next shouldn’t be.”
A New Mission: Helping Families Navigate Loss
That realization became her life’s mission. Monica became a Grief and Bereavement Counselor, determined to transform her pain into purpose and her grief into a gift. She founded Widow’s Den, a compassionate community designed to help individuals and families find strength, support, and direction after loss. What began as a lifeline for herself soon became one for others — a space where healing meets hope.
Author, Advocate, and Voice for Healing
Monica’s journey has also taken shape through her writing. She is the author of three published books on grief and end-of-life planning, which have been embraced by funeral homes nationwide — with hundreds of copies purchased to help guide families through one of life’s most difficult transitions.
Her newest release, Charlie’s Story: A Children’s Grief Book for Neurodivergent Children, is a groundbreaking resource that helps young readers understand loss in a gentle, inclusive way. Combining empathy, education, and emotional awareness, the book offers comfort and understanding for both children and caregivers navigating the journey of grief together.
From Healing to Planning: A Purposeful Career with Everstory Partners
Today, Monica works with Everstory Partners at Iredell Memorial Park as a Family Service Counselor, where she helps families get their “ducks in a row” before the unthinkable happens. She guides them through pre-need arrangements, ensuring their wishes are honored and their loved ones are spared from financial or emotional burdens during a time of grief.
Her work focuses on creating peace of mind — not only through emotional preparation but through practical organization and financial readiness. “It’s a final gift of love to your family,” she explains, “because planning ahead is one of the most selfless things you can do.”
Her Voice, Her Humor, Her Humanity
In addition to her counseling work, Monica is a writer and columnist for LKN Connect. She contributes to Widow’s Den, where she offers heartfelt reflections on healing and growth, and One Paddle Short (But Still Rowing) — her satirical, witty take on life, love, and Lake Norman. “Sometimes humor is the bridge between heartache and healing,” she says.
Connect with Monica
If you have questions about pre-need arrangements, grief support, or simply where to start when it comes to preparing for the inevitable, Monica welcomes your call or visit.
“My pain became my purpose, and my grief became my gift.”
