Fox Valley Grief Network

An Informational Resource For Grief and Related Support Systems

The Fox Valley Grief Network is a group of area professionals and non-professionals companioning the bereaved who gather several times a year to explore grief-related needs, gaps, and potential services in our community, as well as receiving support in a variety of ways including getting acquainted with each other, becoming familiar with area grief services, and receiving ongoing education. Members include support group facilitators, counselors, social workers, church ministers, healthcare providers, hospice volunteers and staff, school staff, etc. Contact Pete Reinl, current chair of the Fox Valley Grief Network, at 920-831-9905 or grief.support@hotmail.com to become a member, to be included in mailings, or for more information.

General Grief Groups 

Grief Support Drop-In Groups 

Open to any adult grieving the death of a loved one. Refreshments and handouts are provided. No fee. Contact Deb Kosmer, Affinity Visiting Nurses at 1-866-236-8500. 

• Oshkosh: 1st Thursday St. Andrew’s Ev. Lutheran Church, 1100 E. Murdock Ave., groups offered at 2:30 & 6:30 p.m. 
• Appleton: 4th Tuesday, Thompson Community Center, 820 W. College, groups offered at 2:30 & 6:30 p.m. 

Open Grief Group 

1st & 3rd Thursday of the month, 7:00-8:30 p.m. at St. Jude the Apostle Church in Oshkosh (5th street, in parish office building, behind church). Anonymous, ecumenical, and no fee. Facilitated by Linda Hillary, call 920-233-8044

Caring Companions Bereavement Support Group 

St. Mary’s, Menasha, six week sessions offered in April and September from 6:00-7:00 p.m.. For all adults mourning the loss of a loved one. Contact Joan Spielbauer at 920-731-5898. 

Grief Share 

Surviving the Holidays: Saturday, November 15th from 9 A.M. to noon.  Call Debbie at 920.725.3896.  Transportation is available. Calvary Bible Church, 1450 Oakridge Road, Neenah

Support Group for anyone who has lost a loved one, recent or past: • Christ the Rock, Menasha, Tuesdays 6:30- 8:00. p.m. Sessions held throughout the year. No cost; $15 workbook optional. Contact Deb for start dates at 920-730- 8383 ext. 345 or Linda 920-730-8383 ext. 204. • 

The Starting Point 

This program is located at Fox Valley Technical College and offers free individual counseling and workshops for persons in transition, including bereaved individuals. January 27 and April 20, 2009 daytime workshops March 24, 2009, evening workshop  Call Sandi at 920-735-5693 for more information.

Calvary Bible Church, Neenah 

Wednesday evenings, 13 sessions held throughout the year from 7:00-8:30 p.m., room 145. Contact Debbie Smoll at 920-725-3896 for more information. No cost; $15.00 workbook optional. 

Grief & Loss 

Scripture based grief & loss information, sharing, and prayer sessions. Wednesdays for 6 weeks, 9:00-10:30 a.m., after Easter, at St. Bernard’s Church, 1617 W. Pine, Appleton. Contact Pam at 920-739-0331. 

Theo (To Help Each Other) 

Support / learning for those who have had a loved one die. 1st and 3rd Mondays. (Nondenominational- no fee.) St. Mary’s Church, Appleton. Contact Deacon Bill Burke at 920-733-7484, the Parish office at 920-739- 5119, or Donna Nemecek at 920-739-6890. 

Time To Mourn 

A Time to Mourn is a six week grief group offered to adults who have lost an adult loved one through death. The group will be co-led by professionals trained in grief support. The next series will be held from 6:00-8:15 on Tuesday nights, from September 9 through October 14 at Evergreen Manor. The sessions are free of charge, but registration is required. If you have any questions or if you or someone you know would benefit from this group, please call Chaplain Cathie Vander Velden at Bethel Home, 232-5274, to register.

Living With Loss

A six week grief group offering support to adults who have experienced the loss of a loved one. Offered in Fall and Spring by ThedaCare At Home-Hospice. Meets at The Heritage Community Room, 2500 S. Heritage Woods Dr., Appleton. Contact Rachel Seppi at 800-984-5554 or 920-716-1006 to register.

Men Journeying Through Grief

A gathering of men who have experienced the death of a loved one, recent or past. Gatherings include supper, discussion, grief information, and resources. No charge. Call Deb at 920-727-2000 or Pete at 920-831- 9905 for meeting time and place. 

Children  

Center For Grieving Children 

Programs of peer-to-peer support for grieving children of all ages and their parents. Led by trained facilitators at the Boys and Girls Club of the Fox Valley, 117 S. Locust St., Appleton. 6:00-8:00 p.m., includes supper. No charge. Contact Irene Hans 731-0555 ext. 244 for more information and to register for programs. 

Camp Hope 

A weekend program providing an atmosphere of love and acceptance for children to express themselves following the death of a loved one. No fee. Contact Becky Loy at 715-341-0076. Email: camphope@charter.net 

Grieving Parents 

Remembering Through Sharing 

Support group for those who have lost an infant by death. Group meets on the 1st Wednesday of each month at Theda Clark Medical Center or Appleton Medical Center, 7:00-8:30 p.m. 920-729-2087.  

Freedom to Grieve 

Support group for those who have experienced miscarriage or stillbirth. Group meets at 7:00-8:30 p.m. on the 2nd Monday of each month at Affinity Medical Clinic on Deerwood Ave, Neenah. Pre-registration is not required but appreciated. Contact Nurse Direct at 1-800-362-9900 or contact Mary Sullivan 920-738-2487.  

Compassionate Friends 

For bereaved parents who have experienced the death of a child.

•  Neenah: 4th Thursday of the month, 7:00-8:30 p.m., Faith United Methodist Church, 1025 Tullar Road. Contact Deb Schultz at 920-725-6340. 
•  Oshkosh: 1st Monday of the month, 6:30-8:30 p.m., St. Peter’s Church, 1317 Faust Ave. Contact Deb Kosmer 1-866- 236-8500. 

Elizabeth Ministry 

Ministry for bereavement of miscarriage, stillbirth, infant or child death, failed adoptions, and infertility. Support groups, mentoring, memorials, retreat, and resource center. Contact Jeannie Hannemann at 766- 9380, 120 W. 8th Street, Kaukauna. 

Pathways To Peace

Prayer service for those who have experienced miscarriage or stillbirth. Services are held four times a year at St. Elizabeth Hospital  in Appleton at 920-738-2487. Oshkosh location held twice a year. Call Mercy Medical Center Birthplace 920-223-1280. 

Walk To Remember

Sunday, October 12, 2008 (Rain or Shine) 1:00 - 3:00 pm Registration from 12:30 - 1:00 Gordon Bubolz Nature Preserve 4815 N. Lynndale Drive, Appleton Exit Hwy 00 east to Hwy A then north to Bubolz Nature Preserve. Sponsered by Affinity Pregnancy Loss Program, ThedaCare Remembering Through Sharing Program, Infant Death Center of Wisconsin

Trauma

Survivors of Suicide 

Support group for family members, friends, and coworkers of those who have died by suicide. Minimum age is 14, no cost, and registration is not necessary. These groups are sponsored by Community for Hope of Geater Oshkosh, Inc. www.communityforhope.org 

• Appleton: Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Church 2600 E. Philip Ln, Appleton 6:30-8:30 p.m., 2nd Monday of each month 
• Oshkosh: Former First National Bank Building 404 North Main St. Oshkosh (Lower level conference room) 6:30-8:30 p.m., 3rd Thursday of each month 
• Ripon: Immanuel United Methodist Church 401 W. Fond Du Lac St., Ripon 6:30-8:30 p.m., 1st Thursday of each month

For more information regarding any of these groups, contact Mary Van Haute, Executive Director at 920-680-4710

Widows/Widowers

Rainbows 

Provides a social environment for widows and widowers. Meetings are held the 3rd Sunday of each month and weekly breakfast locations vary. Other activities included. No fees. Weekly notice in newspaper on Thursdays. Newsletters are available at the meeting. Contact Milsom Zimmerman at 920-733-7817. 

New Beginnings

A dinner group for widows and widowers including a wide range of other social events. 2nd Wednesday evenings. Registration required. Contact Donna Nemecek at 920- 739-2093 or 920-739-6890 or Emily, 920- 766-2341. Email dmntheo@aol.com 

Grief Support 

Topic-based gatherings for widows & widowers on the 4th Wednesday of the month from 9:00-10:30 a.m. Sept-March at St. Bernard’s Church 1617 W. Pine, Appleton. Contact Pam at 920-739-0331.

Other Supports

Hospice Memorial Services 

Many of the area hospices conduct memorial services throughout the year for the families they have journeyed with, as well as for the general public. Contact them for more information regarding these memorial services. 

Fullness of Life

Prayer services for grieving families: 

•  St. Elizabeth Hospital, Appleton: Services held three times per year, April, August, and December at 6:30 p.m. on the 1st Thursday of the month. 920- 738-2655. 
•  Mercy Medical Center, Oshkosh: Services in March, June, September, and December. At 7:00 p.m. on the 1st Tuesday of the month. 920-223-0120.  

Local Churches 

Don’t forget your local church, synagogue, or mosque. Pastors, priests, rabbis, lay ministers, Stephen and Be-Friender Ministries, and Care Ministry may be of comfort in helping to assist with the process of bereavement. Faith communities often offer memorial services during the course of the year. 

Professional Counseling 

While the experience of loss, anger, and sadness is a necessary part of grief work, it can be difficult for some to do without professional support of some kind. Professional counselors play an important role in facilitating healthy grieving and observing signs of complicated grief that can lead to major depression. The Fox Valley is fortunate to have many qualified, competent, and compassionate counselors. For referrals please contact your clergy, your health care provider, a trusted friend, or funeral home. 

Starting Point Workshops

FVTC will be offering two Starting Point Workshops this fall for female single parents and displaced homemakers in transition. This workshop helps women to identify where they are, where they are going, and how they will get there. The morning workshop begins September 15and the evening workshop begins October 14. 

The Wo/Men's Educational Bureau (WEB) at FVTC also offers individual counseling appointments for female and male single parents in transition. Call 735-5696 and ask for an appointment with a WEB counselor. All services are free and confidential.

For All Counseling Professionals and Other Interested Parties

Wisconsin Counseling Association Fall Summit Saturday, November 1st, 2008 Wisconsin Rapids, WI 8 to 4 pm Northwest Technical College Campus Cost: Members $45, $35 for students Non-members $95 professional, $60 student

Updated 10/1/08