Over time, I began to notice that pieces of our story would show up in unexpected ways.
One of those moments came years later, in a way I never could have imagined.
A Story That Reached Beyond Us
Years later, something unexpected happened.
A film was created in our hometown of Manchester by the Sea—centered around the loss of children. Parts of it were filmed right here, including scenes on my husband Ed’s boat, the F/V Claudia Marie.
Ed has been a commercial fisherman out of Gloucester for many years. Because of his connection to the waterfront, he had often been asked to participate in different projects, but always declined. When a film crew reached out in the spring of 2015 asking to use his boat, his first response was “probably not.”
But they kept asking.
Our daughter Annika and I thought it might be interesting—to see how filming worked, maybe meet some of the actors—and we convinced him to say yes. At the time, we had no idea what the movie was about or what it would become.
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Annika, Casey Affleck, Julie
Kyle Chandler, Ed
We didn’t know much about the film, only that it would carry the name of our town. Ed ended up helping in ways we never expected, working with the costume team, lending clothing, and guiding them on what felt authentic for life on the water. He even drove the boat during filming, quietly behind the scenes.
At one point, I asked if he would be comfortable asking the director to keep Claudia’s name on the boat. He hesitated. We didn’t want to push, we just hoped.
When I sat in the theater at the premiere, something happened I will never forget.
In the opening scene, the name Claudia Marie filled the screen.
I was stunned. And then overwhelmed.
To see her name- our daughter’s name- there, in front of everyone… it meant more than I can fully explain.
When you lose a child, people often stop saying their name. Not because they don’t care, but because they’re afraid of causing pain. But most parents who have lost a child don’t want that. We want our children remembered. We want their names spoken. We want them to still be part of the world.
In that moment, it felt like she was.
Opening scene, Manchester By The Sea
As the movie unfolded, there were so many small things that felt familiar, pieces that quietly echoed parts of our lives.
Ed has always felt closest to Claudia out on the ocean, and the film revolves so much around the water. Our family’s connection to hockey, the local places, the feeling of home, it was all there in different ways.
Even small details stayed.
Names that could have been changed weren’t.
Moments that could have been edited out remained.
At the end of the film, a gravestone reads Claudia Marie – 2001.
That is the year she passed.
The director had no idea of our story.
And yet, somehow, so much aligned.
I know there was no mistake in the F/V Claudia Marie being part of that film.
We were asked to share parts of our experience in connection with the film.
If hearing those conversations feels helpful, you can watch them here.
If you’re looking for support or a place to begin, you can continue here:
