Although Christmas is a time of joy and family for many, it can be tough for those experiencing loss. Former “Dukes of Hazzard” star John Schneider is one of those facing his first holidays after a loss. Schneider’s wife of three years, Alicia Allain Schneider, died this past February at the age of 53 after battling breast cancer. Speaking to Fox News just before Christmas, Schneider opened up about the emotions he was feeling as he prepared for his first Christmas without his wife.
“It’s going to be rough,” he said, discussing how he planned to spend the holiday with his in-laws and Allain’s daughter. He then called grief “a funny thing,” admitting it will “sneak up on you and smack you in the back of the head.” He admitted it seems to occur at moments of enjoyment. “It’s almost like grief says, ‘No, no, no, no, no. You’re not going to smile today. You’re not going to laugh today,’” he said. He also spoke about coming to grips with the permanency of grief and that “the notion that grief will ever go away is silly.” “It’s just something we learn to carry. And I’m learning,” he said, adding he is “making the best of it.”
His wife’s passing doesn’t mean she won’t be part of the family’s festivities, with the family planning to honor Alicia’s memory. “We’re going to spend all that time together, which is probably what we would have done if Alicia were here. We’re going to celebrate her. We’re going to miss her. But it’s hard. It’s very hard,” he said, clearly emotional. He called Alicia a “wonderful, wonderful life and such a force in all of our lives.” He also stated that Alicia’s family would continue to be a part of his life. “My extended family through Alicia will always be my family. So, I’ll be part of what they do, just as we were all part of what one another did for the last eight or nine years. So, I’m going to keep that going.”
One thing that has helped Schneider with his grief is connecting with others who are grieving, particularly Dee Dee Sorvino. Sorvino’s husband, Paul Sorvino, father of actress Mira Sorvino, died in July 2022. The two were connected by a mutual friend and have encouraged one another in their grief. “I have found that helping other people, talking to other people who have experienced loss is a great, great way to strengthen yourself. It’s a great way to get a grip on yourself. So I do that as often as possible, and I encourage people to do the same,” said Schneider.
Sorvino encouraged Schneider to turn his attention to other projects to help battle his grief, which led to the two launching Schneider’s new Revenuer’s Reserve Premium Moonshine. According to Schneider, their collaboration has helped them both in the healing process. “She’s been able to cry a little bit. We’re talking about Paul and talking about Alicia, and I’ve been able to laugh and, at the same time, we’ve been able to birth what looks to be a really substantial moonshine business. So, you know, God pays attention. Otherwise, she’d have been sitting somewhere, not crying. I’d have been sitting somewhere not laughing. And this wouldn’t exist. It’s been a good thing all the way around.”