Local Support Groups

The death of a loved one is one of life's most painful experiences. As you travel along the path of grief, you may feel at times as though you're wandering in a fog of sorts-uncertain as to what lies ahead or which way to turn. With the help of your faith, and of your family and friends, you may find renewed hope and life, and signs along grief's path that will help you to know that you're going in the right direction.

At Eastgate and Parkway Funeral Service, we want you to know that you are not alone; that we will continue to support you. We are here to offer a loving hand of friendship and support to you and your family on this journey toward healing.

To help with the grieving process, our funeral home provides each of our families the opportunity to visit with our Aftercare Coordinator, Carleen Hennenfent. She is happy to visit with you to help you choose a resource that is appropriate for your needs.

Carleen is a licensed funeral director, and has been a part of the staff at Eastgate Funeral Service since 1992, where she first began working with families wishing to prearrange their funeral. After focusing on preneed for over twelve years, Carleen began focusing completely on Grief Care for families. Along with being a volunteer with Medcenter One's Good Grief Program, Carleen facilitates four separate LOTUS groups, which were created by Carleen in 1993. Carleen utilizes her professional experience in working with over three-thousand families over the years, to help support grieving individuals on their journey toward healing.

If you are interested in learning more about our LOTUS groups or to view a list of Books on Death and Grief, please read below. You may also visit our National Support Groups page, where we have listed several national grief support groups. Many of the sources listed may help provide you with sound information to help you cope with your feelings and emotions at this most difficult time.

You are also welcome to stop by the funeral home to request information on the options and resources available for coping with grief.

LOTUS Looking Onward To Understanding & Serenity

The Sacred Lotus (Nelumbo Nucifera) has great religious symbolism. If such a lovely flower can rise from the mud, it is reasoned, then man can conquer any adversity.

Perhaps your stepping stone back into life. LOTUS is a group for men, women, and young adults who have experienced a death in their life. From September through May, our meetings address the many struggles of life that challenge those who grieve.

Our meetings include the following topics: Grief identified and discussed, Living When a Loved One Dies, Dealing with Anger and Frustration, Dealing with Guilt and Regret, Handling Holiday Grief, Dealing with Our Fears, Dealing with Loneliness and Depression, Built-in Repair Mechanisms: Crying, Sleeping, Dreaming, Laughing, and Talking, Coping as a Family, Friendship Changes, Secrets of Survivors, Forgiveness, Allowing For a New Relationship, and Will Things Ever Be the Way They Were?

All Groups Meet at: The Serenity Center for Loss and Healing at Parkway Funeral Service

LOTUS for Men
2nd and 4th Tuesdays of Every Month
September through May
10:00 a.m.

LOTUS for Women
2nd and 4th Tuesdays of Every Month
September through May
1:00 p.m.

LOTUS After Hours (for Working Men and Women)
2nd and 4th Tuesdays of Every Month
September through May
7:00 p.m

Relief From Grief (RFG) A committee from the above groups plans fun activities each month. Individuals must belong to or have participated in the regular LOTUS groups in order to attend fun events.

A Cup of Tea and a Good Book
An hour of reading and discussion for the Barnes and Noble Type Grievers.
2nd and 4th Mondays of every month
September through May
1:00 p.m.

 Books on Death and Grief

The following list includes just some of the many excellent resources for children, teens and adults, which may be available at our local library or book store.

 Children

The Fall of Freddie the Leaf		Leo Buscaglia
Where Has Grandpa Gone		Ruth Kopp
Talking About Death		Earl Grollman
How it Feels When a Parent Dies		J. Krementz
Learning to Say Goodbye-When a Parent Dies		Eda LeShan
My Brother Joey Died		Gloria McLendon
I Had a Friend Named Peter		Janice Cohn
The Kids Book About Death and Dying by kids for kids		Eric E. Rofes
When a Pet Dies		Fred Rogers
The Saddest Time		Norma Simon
Some of the Pieces		Melissa Madenski
Lifetimes: A Beautiful Way to Explain Death To Children		Mellonie
The 10th Good Thing About Barney		Judith Viorst
Sunflower Mountain		Kathleen Foster-Morgan
Tell Me Papa		Joy and Mary Johnson
You Hold Me and I'll Hold You		Jo Carson
After Charlotte's Mom Died		Cornelia Spelman
When Nothing Makes Sense		G. Deskin and G. Streckler

 Teens

When a Friend Dies		Marilyn Gootman
Flowers for the Ones You've Known		Centering Corporation
Straight Talk About Death		Earl Grollman

 Adults

When Parents Die-A Guide for Adults		Edward Myers
Living When a Loved One Has Died		Earl Grollman
What Helped Me When My Loved One Died		Earl Grollman
Living Through Mourning		Harriet Sarnoff Schiff
How To Survive the Loss of a Love		Colgrove, Bloomfield
The Grieving Time		Anne M. Brooks
No Time for Goodbyes		Janice Harris Lord
Dr. Joyce Brothers-Widowed		Dr. Joyce Brothers
The Widower		John Burgess Kohn
Lifelines-Learning to Live Alone without Being Lonely		Lynn Caine
Rebuilding the House		Laurie Graham
After the Death of a Child		Ann Finkbeiner
A Grief Observed		C.S. Lewis
Helping Adults with Mental Retardation Grieve a Death Loss		Luchterhand and Murphy
Final Gifts		Callanan and Kelley
Man to Man		Ralph Milton