Three sisters in New York are using humor to navigate the grief of losing their mother, Karen Riggins, who died of pancreatic cancer in July 2022. Their viral TikTok videos, filled with heartfelt confessions and apologies to their late mom, have resonated with millions.
After Karen’s death, Sara Wollner, 31, said she felt isolated. Having already lost her father as a child, she found herself seeking connection. “I was only 30 and I had lost both my parents,” Sara said. “So I started posting on TikTok — I always say selfishly — because I really wanted to use it as an outlet and maybe connect with others who had lost people in their lives.”
The idea for the confessional videos came to her after seeing similar content on TikTok. One night in November, she shared the idea with her sister, Katie Riggins, 33. ”
We literally did one take, not even lying,” Sara said. “That was all genuine humor and genuine confessions.”
In their first viral video, the sisters giggle through their admissions. “So, our mom died a little over a year ago and these are some of the things that we’d like to confess to her that have happened since she died,” Sara says in the clip. “No. 1, we didn’t know that we had to file your taxes.” The moment has more than 25 million views and 43,000-plus comments.
@sarawollner Confessions to our dead mom #funny #siblinghumor #dayinmylife #viral #trending #sisters #funnytiktok #parentloss #parentlossawareness #fyp #fypage #fypシ #confessions #siblingcomedy ♬ original sound – Sara Lauren
Once the first video went viral, the sisters realized they had plenty more to share. “We were like, we have so much more content because of who we are as people and just the relationship we had with her,” Sara said. The bond they shared with their mom was one of humor and support, a relationship that lasted until her final days. “My mom was cracking jokes, literally, from hospice care,” Sara said. “So yeah, we just have always laughed through hardship.”
Their TikTok series, “Konfessions to Kare,” includes apology videos and features their oldest sister, Megan. The love and support from viewers have been overwhelming. “My DMs are a pretty wholesome place to be,” Sara said. “A lot of people reach out and share, ‘I’ve also lost a parent or I’ve lost a sibling.'”
The sisters shared the levity that they found while grieving the loss of their mom. Photo from TikTok
Even those without a close relationship with their parents have found comfort in the sisters’ videos. “Grief is a universal experience,” Katie notes. “Bad things happen to everybody… but how you look at it and how you kind of move on from it is the only thing really in your control.”
Karen, who was lovingly nicknamed “Mama Riggins,” raised her daughters to be independent and strong. Despite never using social media, Sara believes their mom would be “laughing hysterically” at the reaction her girls have received. “I like to think she’s really proud of us,” she said, “because I know we’re making a difference and we’re connecting with people who have faced loss.”
Their journey is not only about sharing laughs but also about inspiring others to find solace and community. As Sara said, “You’re not alone in this journey. That’s kind of [what] the underlying theme is — what we sought after.” Through their candid and humorous videos, the sisters are not only healing themselves but also offering a comforting space for others dealing with grief. Watch below to hear the sisters talk about their mom and coping with grief.
Sources: People | Good Morning America
