Ann Marie Farino
Mother. Speaker. Author.
Coming October 13th
Chronic Chaos: A Son’s Addiction, A Mother’s Love, and Her Quest to Find Joy
Chronic Chaos is a memoir about mothering a son through his extravagant addictions, then learning to live, laugh, and love again after his catastrophic death. The force of Ann Marie Farino’s love for her son, Richard, will overwhelm you, as will her faith in the divine nudges that ultimately helped her endure a shattered heart. Her relatable challenges—divorce, single parenting, a blended family, mental health issues, a slew of addiction treatment programs, navigating the criminal justice system, and suicide—exist alongside nearly unbelievably hilarious moments like the FBI attempting to recruit her teenage son as an informant. Through it all, the memoir is a testament to what so many of us desire: to be better, as a parent and a person.
Available for pre-order now
About Me
Ann Marie Farino speaks to audiences of all ages about addiction, suicide, grief, and the countless small moments that remind us we are not alone. In June 2016, her eldest son, Richard, died by suicide after years of struggling with his mental health and addiction. Rather than let that loss define her, Farino has built a second calling: helping other families find their way back to hope, humor, and joy after profound
loss.
She has appeared as a guest on the Miss Understood podcast with Rachel Uchitel, discussing grief and the long road toward finding joy again — two of the topics most requested by the show’s listeners. Farino works with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Speaker Program, presenting “Talk Saves Lives” to community audiences. A longtime philanthropist, she has supported organizations including Catholic Charities of Lake County, the Illinois Club for Catholic Women, the Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide project of Chicago, and Loyola University. Before turning to advocacy and writing, she built a career as a professional interior designer and real estate broker. Farino divides her time between homes in the Chicago area and South Florida.
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