Holding a funeral or memorial service for your loved one is a positive first step in the grieving process. Family members and friends get a chance to say their goodbyes, and at the same time, they get to share strong feelings with one another.

In the days, weeks and months following the service, people continue to need others to lean on for understanding, encouragement and guidance. For that reason, many local and national support groups have formed. These groups provide a common place and a comforting environment for expressing emotions through each phase of the grieving process. To learn more, click on the links below, or discuss grief counseling and support options with your funeral director.

Bereavement/Grief Support Groups are small groups of individuals from all walks of life coming together with on common bond: loss of a loved one. Group members support each other as they learn ways to grief.

Who is eligible: Adults who have lost a loved on more than three months ago are welcome, whether or not they received Ambercare services. There is no fee.

Why: The purpose of coming together is to gain strength in knowing what is “normal” in the experiences of grief, and to learn from one another. Some member share their stories, some just prefer to listen.

When: Wednesday afternoons from 10:30-12:00. Each session builds on previous sessions, please plan to attend each session.

Where: We will meet at Ambercare Hospice located at 901 N. Date, Truth or Consequences, New Mexico

For more information and to sign up call: 575-894-1828

• AARP Grief & Loss: a collection of resources and an on-line support community.
• National Funeral Directors Association: Frequently Asked Questions about grief.
• American Cancer Society – Support to cancer patients, family and friends.
• Growth House – Discusses hospice care, dying with dignity, terminal illness, grief and bereavement.
• WidowNet – an information and support resource for, and by, widows and widowers.

• National SIDS and Infant Death Program Support Center – support for families dealing with SIDS.
• Bereaved Parents USA – a nationwide organization designed to aid and support bereaved parents and their families.
• The Compassionate Friends – supports families who have experienced the death of a child.

• Fernside Online – an online resource for grieving children.
• The Dougy Center – the first center in the United States to provide peer support groups for grieving children.