Area Support Groups
“A learning and sharing series for you who grieve the death of someone you love.”
Understanding
The death of someone you love can cause a series of emotional and physical reactions which can be bewildering and frightening. It is like “Walking Through The Valley Of Darkness.” Finding people who understand your grief reactions and allow you to express them openly is vital. Having information about the grief process can help you know that you are on the right path.
This series can help you through parts of your Valley of Darkness. It won’t answer all of your needs, nor will you be finished with your grief when you have completed the sessions. Healing a loss takes time, but knowing how to allow the healing to take place also helps.
Southwest Iowa & Eastern Nebraska Support Group Information
Aftercare Grief Support Group (Omaha) www.heafeyheafey.com (aftercare)
This group gives those who have experienced a loss the opportunity to receive help and encouragement. The topic meetings are generally held the 2nd Sunday of each month (exception for holidays) at 6:00 P.M. at Crown Pointe Retirement Center, 2820 S. 80 St. Contact Sharon at Heafey Hoffmann Dworak & Cutler Mortuaries at 402-391-3900 or check the website to verify the meeting date. **PS
Aftercare Support Group (Council Bluffs) www.cutleroneill.com (aftercare)
Our group brings hope and healing by sharing with others who have lost a loved one. The group meets the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month at 4:30 to 6:00 P.M. at The Center at 714 S. Main St.. Facilitated by Rev. Dick Sladky. Cutler-O’Neill Funeral Home at 712-322-7779. **PS
Bereavement Support Group (Omaha)
These sessions are for any bereavement. They are 6 weeks long and are offered in the Spring and in the Fall at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 925 S. 84 St., Omaha. Contact Jayne at VNA at 402-930-4269, or Marcia at Methodist at 402-354-3200, or Peggy at Alegent at 402-898-8209 for information on beginning dates and times. These sessions are sponsored through the Visiting Nurse Association Hospice, Methodist Hospice, and Alegent Creighton Hospice. There is no fee. Must be pre-registered to attend. **PS
Beginning Experience (Omaha)
Beginning Experience of Omaha offers three programs. 1) A Weekend Retreat – three times a year. It is for people who are further along in their grief process. It is recommended that the person be widowed at least a year before attending. 2) Coping sessions – a six-week program for widowed, divorced or separated adults. It is designed for those going through the initial stages of grief. 3) Who Am I Now? – a session for children and teens ages 5-15 is offered during the summer months, presented at the same time as the summer Adult Coping sessions. For more information and dates, please visit www.beginningexperienceofomaha.org. Sponsored by the Archdiocese of Omaha. Contact number is 402.551.9003 ext 1304 at the Center for Family Life Formation Office, 3330 North 60th Street, Omaha, NE.
Compassionate Friends (Omaha/Council Bluffs)
Open-ended support group for parents, grandparents, siblings, and family members over 18 grieving the death of a child. 1) 1st Thursday of the month 7:00- 9:00 P.M. at New Cassel Retirement Center, 900 N. 90th St., Omaha. 2) Spanish Support available upon request. Call 402-571-4011 or access them at www.tcfomaha.org or www.facebook.com/tcfomaha or mail@tcfomaha.org There is no fee. **PE
H.E.A.L. (Bellevue)
This group offers discussion and social support for those who are bereaved. Lunch is served, followed by a facilitated meeting time. They meet the 2nd and 4th Mondays from 11:30 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. at Mable Rose in Bellevue, and the 1st and 3rd Mondays from 5:00 – 6:30P.M.at Hillcrest Homecare and Hospice building at 1820 Hillcrest Dr. in Bellevue. Lunch/Dinner is provided with prior RSVP. Contact Valerie Height, Bereavement Coordinator with Hillcrest Hospice Care at 402-619-2321 or vheight@hillcresthealth.com to RSVP. **PS
HEALing Embrace (Omaha)
HEALing Embrace walks alongside families that have experienced a pregnancy or infant loss. They provide free grief resources and gifts of hope and healing. HEALing Embrace also provides financial assistance for medical and funeral expenses, postpartum care and grief counseling. When your heart is ready, please reach out to jennifer@healingembrace.org for more information or the website at www.healingembrace.org
Omaha/Council Bluffs Young Widows and Widowers (Omaha/Council Bluffs)
This is an informal social support group. They use an email group for individual and group communications, questions, and encouragement. Contact by email: omahayoungwids@gmail.com or leave information at The Centering Corporation at 402-553-1200. **PE
Open Arms (Omaha)
This support group is for families who have experienced the loss of a baby during pregnancy, at birth, or shortly after birth. They meet six times per year (Feb, April, June, August, October, December) in a four-week format as follows: Wednesdays, from 7-8:00 P.M. at West Hills Presbyterian Church, 3015 South 82nd Avenue (please use the North entrance). Contact: Tom Backer, at 402-343-8527.
Pathways to Compassion (Omaha)
Pathways to Compassion Hospice hosts 6 week grief support groups throughout the year for adults 18 and over. For start dates and times, contact Colleen O’ Neill, Bereavement Coordinator, by calling 402-333-3149 or email at colleen.oneill@cchnet.net **PS
P.O.S.T. – Parents of Suicide Together (Omaha)
This group comes together to offer support for each other after the loss of a child to suicide. They generally meet the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 P.M. at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 84th and Pacific. There is also a Saturday luncheon meeting for the mothers. For more information please call Karen McElroy at 402-556-7307 or email at ParentsOfSuicidesTogether@yahoo.com or view the website at http://parentsofsuicidestogether.wordpress.com. **PE
SIDS Support Group (Omaha)
This group offers support to families and caregivers who have lost a child to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Family support and assistance is scheduled. Contact SIDS at 402-935-1911 or at www.nebraskasidsfoundation.org
SOLOS (Survivors of Loved Ones to Suicide) Two groups – for Teens/Young Adults and for Adult Siblings (Omaha)
There are two groups. The first one for Adult Siblings meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month, 7:00-8:00 PM at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 925 S. 84th St., Omaha. Contact Declan Mc Elroy at 402-739-9899 or declanomaha@yahoo.com. The second group is for Teens and Young Adults. This group meets the last Thursday of each month, 6:30-8:00PM at The Church of Omaha, 3715 N, 104th Ave, Omaha. Contact Cindy Thomas at 402-915-3118 or cinthomas@outlook.com.
S.O.S. – Survivors of Suicide (Omaha)
These sessions are for family and friends who have lost someone they love through suicide. Meetings are the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7:30 P.M. at First Christian Church – Dodge at 66th. Please call Fred Henninger at 402-558-4616. Please call before attending. **PE
Surviving Bereavement (Omaha)
These sessions are for any bereavement. They are 4 week sessions and are offered in January, May, and September on Thursday evenings from 6:00 – 7:30 P.M. at the Immanuel Medical Center Campus, 6901 North 72nd Street, Omaha, NE. It is recommended that you attend no sooner than 4-6 months after the death of your loved one. Contact Linda Dempsey at 402-572-2933 for exact location and starting dates to register for classes as they are closed after sessions begin and limited in size. **PS
Tender Hearts: An Infant Loss Support Group (Omaha)
This group provides on-going support to parents who have lost a child whether through miscarriage, still-born or infant loss. Parents are welcome to join and exit this “open” group at any time. This group will meet the second Wednesday of each month from 6 – 7:30 PM, held in the Criss Room at Methodist Women’s Hospital, 707 N 190th Plaza, Omaha, NE 68022. For more information, call Jessica at 402-815-1290.
THEOS (They Help Each Other Spiritually & Socially) (Omaha)
This is primarily a social group for people who have had a spouse die. They meet on the 2nd Monday of each month at 1:00 P.M. in the auditorium at New Cassel Retirement Center, 900 N. 90th St., Omaha, NE. Contact Mary at 402-393-3052 or Dorothy at 402-399-0759. It is recommended that people attending this group have already journeyed through the early stages of grief. **PE
Walking Through the Valley of Darkness (Omaha) www.heafeyheafey.com (aftercare)
Crown Pointe Retirement Center: These sessions are adult education for people who have lost a loved one. They meet on the 2ndand 4th Tuesdays, Lower level, from 10:00 to 11:30 A.M. at 2820 South 80th St. (off West Center frontage road). Peggy Bonacci, Facilitator. Contact Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak-Cutler Mortuaries at 402-391-3900. There is no fee. **PS
Widowed Person’s Group (Omaha)
This group meets for social support the 3rd Monday of each month at 11:30 A.M. at Le Peep, 2012 N. 117th Ave. Preference is to please call Grace at 402-426-9690 or Addean at 402-493-0452 for first time attending. **PE
Widowed, Separated and Divorced (Omaha)
This group meets primarily for education and social support and is sponsored by the Archdiocese of Omaha. There is a schedule for monthly activities that can be accessed through the website www.wdsofomaha.com or call the Center for Family Life Formation office at 402-551-9003 ext 1304.
**PS – Professional or Staff Facilitated; **PE – Peer Facilitated
OTHER SERVICES
Centering Corporation (Omaha)
This non-profit resource center sells books, videos and literature for the bereaved of all ages, as well as providing workshops for grieving children and their families. For information call 402-553-1200 or toll free 866-218-0101. They are located at 7230 Maple St., Omaha, NE 68134. They also publish a quarterly magazine, “Grief Digest.” An on-line catalog of resources can be found at www.centering.org
Ted E. Bear Hollow (Omaha)
This is a grief center, offering free grief support services to children, teens and adults. Family support is offered to those grieving the death of a loved one as well as those families experiencing a serious illness or injury. Family bereavement support includes ongoing and open-ended monthly support for children ages 3-18 and their families, periodic 8-session groups, and day camps at various times of the year including Kids Kamps and Tinsel & Tears. Overnight teen retreats are held twice a year, and an ongoing, open-ended adults only group (Adults Helping Adults) is held the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. For more information check their website www.tedebearhollow.org or call the office at 402-502-2773. They are located at 7811 Farnam Drive, Omaha, NE 68114.
Volunteers Assisting Seniors (VAS) (Omaha)
VAS utilizes the education, skills and knowledge of volunteers, especially retired seniors, to help other seniors obtain needed services and understand their rights and privileges available under the law. This includes Medicare rights and entitlements through the NE SHIIP program. In addition they offer help with homestead exemptions, assist in issues concerning Medicare fraud, and other help in areas. VAS is located at 1941 S. 42nd St., Suite 312, Omaha, NE 68105. Call 402-444-6617. www.vas-nebraska.com
INTERNET
Bereavement Publications: www.livingwithloss.com; Centering Corporation: www.centering.org; National Funeral Directors Association: www.nfda.org/consumer-resources/grief-support ;Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support: www.nationalshare.org; Grief Share: www.griefshare.org (can sign-up for emailed daily devotionals) and/or check local classes being offered in area at churches by entering zip-code.