Grief Support
The following are some tools available to assist you in your healing journey. Contact us to discuss other resources and find a personalized solution to support you on the road to recovery.
365 Days of Healing
With our daily emails of comfort and hope, you will feel supported knowing we’re here to walk with you through your journey of grief.
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Just One of Many
Here’s one example of our 365 Days of Healing emails, designed to offer advice, tell stories, and otherwise help you heal.
Grief & Healing Websites
GriefShare
GriefShare is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences.
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Web Healing
Web Healing offers grief discussion boards where you can talk with others who are grieving or browse recommended books on grief.
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The Compassionate Friends
Whether your family has had a child die (at any age, from any cause), or you are helping those who have gone through this life-altering experience, The Compassionate Friends exists to provide friendship, understanding, and hope to those going through the grieving process as a parent.
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AARP
With AARP you’ll find articles, discussions, and helpful information on dealing with end-of-life care, the challenges faced by caregivers, and how to deal with grief after a loss.
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Children & Grief
When a loved one dies, it can be difficult to know how to help kids cope with the loss, particularly as you work through your own grief. By being open and honest, encouraging communication, and sharing your own feelings, you and your children can cope with painful times and begin your healing journey together.
The following links provide more detailed information on topics related to helping children and teens cope with loss.
When Families Grieve™
This guide was created by Sesame Workshop, the educational organization behind Sesame Street. It explores children's understanding of death and offers information about communicating, ideas for coping together, and ways to move forward with your children after a loss.
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Helpful Children's Books
This list from Allina Health recommends children’s books that deal with death and grief. There are suggestions for children of all ages, from preschool to age 12. They also have books for different types of losses, such as the loss of a parent, sibling, grandparent, friend, or pet. With these books, you can start a meaningful conversation with your child and help them understand their feelings
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More Advice
Here you'll find a Huffington Post article by Judith Acosta containing advice and guidance from her book Verbal First Aid, which counsels parents on ways to help kids heal from fear and pain in a variety of situations, including the death of a loved one. If you find the advice in the article helpful, you may want to read her book for even more insight.
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Other Resources
Hospice
Hospice Foundation of America
(800) 854-3402
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors
(800) 959-8277
Loss of a Spouse
Widowed Persons Service
(616) 538-0101
National Association of Military Widows
(800) 842-3451
Loss through Suicide
American Association of Suicidology
(202) 237-2280
Survivors of Suicide
(714) 539-1429
Willow House Survivors of Suicide Support
(847) 205-5666
Catholic Charities
Jessica Mead - (312) 655-7283
Deborah R. Major - (312) 655-7285
Loss through Homicide
Families of Homicide Victims Program
(212) 316-2100 x6191
Infant Loss
SIDS of Illinois, Inc.
(800) 432-SIDS (7437)
Loss of a Child or Sibling
Loss of a Pet
Iowa State University; College of Veterinary Medicine
888-ISU-PLSH (888-478-7574)
Recommended Readings
Selections for Adults
- A Bittersweet Season: Caring for Our Aging Parents—and Ourselves, by Jane Gross
- When Bad Things Happen to Good People, By Rabbi Kushner
- Widow to Widow: Thoughtful, Practical Ideas for Rebuilding Your Life, by Genevieve Davis Ginsburg
- Losing a Parent: Passage to a New Way of Living, by Alexandra Kennedy
- I Wasn’t Ready to Say Goodbye: Surviving, Coping and Healing After the Death of a Loved One, by Pamela D. Blair, Brook Noel
- Never the Same: Coming to Terms with the Death of a Parent, by Donna Schuurman
- When there are No Words: Finding Your Way to Cope with Loss and Grief, by Charlie Walton
- Grieving the Loss of Someone You Love: Daily Meditations to Help You Through the Grieving Process, by Ray Mitsch
Selections for Parents
- After the Death of a Child: Living with Loss through the Years, Ann K. Finkbeiner
- Bereaved Children and Teens: A Support Guide for Parents and Professionals, by Earl A. Grollman
- Talking about Death: A Diologue between Parent and Child, by Earl A. Grollman
- Healing the Bereaved Child: Grief Gardening, Growth Through Grief and Other Touchstones for Caregivers, by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D.
Selections for Teens
- Straight Talk about Death for Teenagers: How to Cope With Losing Someone You Love, by Earl A Grollman
- Weird is Normal – When Teenagers Grieve, By Jenny Lee Wheeler
- Still Here With Me: Teenagers and Children on Losing a Parent, by Suzanne Sjoqvist
- Out of Darkness: Teens Talk about Suicide, by Marion Cook
- I Will Remember You: What to Do When Someone You Love Dies – A Guidebook Through Grief For Teens by Laura Dower and Elena Lister
- When A Friend Dies: A Book For Teens About Grieving and Healing, by Marilyn E. Gootman
- Help Me Say Goodbye: Activities for Helping Kids Cope When A Special Person Dies, by Janis L. Silverman
Selections for Children
- The Fall of Freddie the Leaf, by Leo Buscaglia
- Moonlight Memories, by Maggie Mei Lewis
- What is Heaven, by Maria Shriver
- When a Pet Dies, by Fred Rogers
- Samantha Jane’s Missing Smile: A Story About Coping With the Loss of a Parent, by Julie Kaplow
- Today My Sister Died, by Ronee Domske
- Thumpy’s Story: A Story of Love and Grief Shared by Thumpy, the Bunny, by N. Dodge