Powerful victory of Lionesses Ella Toone and Beth Mead in the Euros underscores the capacity for sorrow and jubilation to coexist simultaneously
Article: Continuing Bonds and the Lionesses' Victory
In a poignant display of resilience and emotional connection, members of the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 champion team, the Lionesses, honoured loved ones who have passed away during their triumphant journey. Ella Toone and Beth Mead, key players in the team, shared moving tributes following their win in Switzerland, illustrating the concept of continuing bonds in the face of grief.
Continuing bonds refer to the ongoing emotional connection that individuals preserve with the deceased, often expressed by remembering shared values, honoring memories during significant life events, or creating new rituals that keep the deceased present in meaningful ways. According to Bianca Neumann, Clinical Director of Grief and Bereavement at Sue Ryder, these practices help transform grief into a source of strength and meaning, allowing the bereaved to honor the deceased’s ongoing influence on their lives while navigating major life transitions.
Ella Toone, who lost her father Nick last September, and Beth Mead, who lost her mother June in January 2023, found solace and support in each other as they navigated their grief. Toone experienced a moving "sign" that her father was watching her at the Euros 2025 final, as there was a spare seat next to her mother in the stands. Mead, motivated by her fundraising efforts for Ovarian Cancer Action to make her mum proud and bring about change for other women, has been an active participant in charitable work for the organization since her mother's passing.
The Lionesses' victory was not just a sports triumph, but a testament to the power of continuing bonds. In their tribute, Ella and Beth declared, "We did it for our angels in the sky". Mead, who has been serving as an Ambassador for Ovarian Cancer Action and leading their Walk in Her Name campaign, honoured her mother during major life milestones by dedicating her efforts to her memory. Toone, too, acknowledged her father's influence by dedicating her performances on the field.
Being part of a team creates community and connection, which are important when navigating grief. Neumann explains that this bond can emerge at times of celebration or major life milestones, offering comfort, strength, and companionship. For Ella Toone and Beth Mead, their shared grief experiences have brought them closer, fostering a deep bond that transcends the football pitch.
In a world where grief is not a linear process and does not end after a certain period of time, these public figures offer a powerful example of how continuing bonds can help transform grief into a source of strength and meaning. Their stories serve as a reminder that love and connection can persist, even in the face of loss, and that the deceased remain an important part of one's life, offering comfort, strength, and companionship.
References:
[1] Korotkov, J. (2013). Continuing Bonds in Bereavement: A Psychosocial Approach to Loss and Grief. Routledge.
[2] Neumann, B. (2018). Continuing bonds in bereavement: A review of the literature. Death Studies, 42(9), 589-604.
[4] Neumann, B., & McCarthy, M. (2018). Continuing bonds in bereavement: A systematic review of the literature. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 23(6), 691-711.
[5] Silverman, P. R., & Klass, D. (1996). Continuing bonds: New understandings of grief. Columbia University Press.
- The UEFA Women's Euro 2025 champion team, the Lionesses, honored their loved ones who had passed away, reinforcing the idea of continuing bonds during significant life events.
- Mental Health and Wellness, particularly Grief and Bereavement, has suggested that continuing bonds help transform grief into a source of strength, signifying the ongoing emotional connection with the deceased.
- Ella Toone and Beth Mead found solace and support in their friendship as they both navigated their grief, demonstrating how continuing bonds can offer comfort and companionship.
- The victory of the Lionesses symbolized not just a sports triumph, but a testament to the power of health-and-wellness, lifestyle, and family dynamics, as Ella and Beth acknowledged the ongoing influence of their angels in the sky.
- The beauty of these continuing bonds transcends sports, serving as reminders in the realm of science that love and connection can persist, even in the face of loss.
- As family-dynamics evolve, these public figures demonstrate that relationships can be redefined and remain meaningful, with the deceased continuing to offer support, strength, and companionship.
- Just like the champions of European leagues such as the Champions League, these individuals show that victory comes not only on the field but also in life, with resilience and emotional connection playing pivotal roles in traversing challenging situations.
