Losing a loved one is an unbearable sorrow; a path no one chooses to walk. For the spouses of fallen IDF soldiers, this grief is compounded by immense sacrifice and a future forever altered. For Friends of the IDF (FIDF), our mission is to stand beside these families, providing the emotional and practical support they need to rebuild their lives. One incredible woman walking this difficult path is Dana Yung, the brave widow of Sgt. Maj. (Res.) Ofer Yung. For Dana, finding the strength to move forward meant seeking a sense of renewal for her family. “The retreat was like an oxygen tank in the middle of all the chaos I’ve been going through during this period,” Dana shared. “It gave me a bit of air to keep going.”
In the wake of her profound loss, Dana received a gift that has brought immeasurable comfort and stability: a specially trained emotional support dog through FIDF’s Bereaved Family Support program. The decision to bring a new companion into her home was deeply personal. “We had a dog for 18.5 years, who passed away four months after Ofer was killed,” Dana explained. “I felt I had to bring new life into our home, for myself but especially for Ori and Eitan.”
This loyal dog, Monty, has become an essential bridge toward finding peace, breaking through the isolation of grief with unconditional love. The impact was felt most deeply by Dana’s two-year-old daughter, who had been unable to sleep through the night since losing her father. The very first night they brought Monty home, she curled up with him on the floor and, for the first time in months, fell into a deep, sound sleep.
While a support dog offers constant companionship and a necessary daily routine at home, the need for human connection and shared experience is also vital. This is why Dana recently participated in FIDF’s Widow’s Retreat. These retreats are a cornerstone of our support for bereaved families, offering a safe, restorative space where widows can connect with others who truly understand their pain.
“It fills the heart a little, and also brings quite a few challenges, it’s important to say. A huge thank you to the donors and to all the teams involved. You are amazing.”
Away from the daily pressures of life, the retreat fosters a sense of shared understanding, where no explanation is needed, and stories of love and loss are met with immediate empathy. It also provides therapeutic workshops led by experts to help navigate the complexities of grief, and, importantly, offers a period of respite and renewal—a chance to step back, breathe, and focus on self-care in a supportive environment. Dana’s participation is a testament to her strength and her commitment to healing. These retreats remind the widows that they are not alone and that a loving community will continue to honor their husbands’ legacies by caring for them.
Dana Yung’s story is a powerful example of how donor support directly transforms lives, providing both a loyal companion for a child’s restless nights and a healing community for a mother as she bravely moves forward.
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