Resources for the Bereaved
National/International organizations
- David Kessler’s resources Grief.com ; certified Grief Educator support (therapists, coaches, peer-to-peer) available here: https://grief.com/grief-help/
- Friends for Survival; resources specific to death by suicide: https://friendsforsurvival.org
Including:- Talking to Children and Teens about death by suicide: https://friendsforsurvival.org/children-%26-teens-grief
- GriefShare (Christian support groups): https://www.griefshare.org/
Local Support (Southern California):
- Changes/Pathways (Lakewood); Bereavement programs https://pathwayschb.org/programs
- New Hope Grief Support Community (Long Beach, Southern California) https://www.newhopegrief.org/
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, Office for Family Life: https://www.rcbo.org/ministry/office-for-family-life/topics/pastoral-care/bereavement-grief-support/
- Spiritual support: Contact the leader of your spiritual community or your parish priest or bereavement ministry; to find a parish: https://www.rcbo.org/all-parishes/
- Grief education: https://www.oconnormortuary.com/blog/
- Griefshare in Los Alamitos: https://www.griefshare.org/countries/us/states/ca/cities/los_alamitos
- Hospitals: Ask to speak to chaplains in pastoral and spiritual care departments
Special Events (national):
- November is Child Grief Awareness Month https://nacg.org/past-campaigns/
- November 16th is Child Grief Awareness Day https://www.childrensgriefawarenessday.org/cgad2/index.shtml
- December 10th: Compassionate Friends (Child Loss) Worldwide Candle Lighting Ceremony: https://www.compassionatefriends.org
Special Events (local)
- All Soul’s Day Mass of Remembrance: see your local parish (usually early November)
- Griefshare has special events for the holidays (online and in-person)
- New Hope (Long Beach, Southern California) Family Camps in February, April, June, August, October, and December 2023: https://www.newhopegrief.org/family-programs/
- Emmaus Retreat for Grieving Parents (Orange County): https://www.emfgp.org/locations/diocesan-pastoral-center/
- ‘It’s OK to Talk about Grief’ Workshops: March 30, 2024 (Rossmoor, CA): See Grief events and Speaking Engagements at JudyFoy.com for future events
Supporting Grieving Children and Teens
- Dougy Center: resources specific to children: https://www.dougy.org/
- KidTalkGrief; resources specific to children: https://www.kidtalkgrief.com
- National Alliance for Child Grief (go to the Family Portal for free materials): https://nacg.org
Including- Talking to Your Child about Death and Dying https://indd.adobe.com/view/23176ffb-5edf-4640-b906-3318ea8808c0
- Judi's House/JAG Institute; many resources related to child grief at https://judishouse.org/find-support/resources/
Including:- Developmental Differences in Understanding and Reacting to Death and Dying: https://judishouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Developmental-Differences-in-Understanding.pdf
- Explaining Death to a Child: https://judishouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/ExplainingDeath-to-Kids-Judis-House.pdf
- Common Grief Reactions: https://judishouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Commongriefreactions-2023.pdf
- Video series to help adults who are supporting grieving children: https://judishouse.org/caregiving-series/
- Activities at home: https://judishouse.org/find-support/homebased-grief-activities/
- Highmark Caring Place (many educational videos for children of all ages and virtual events): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkh830X8olw_rkeSAcCHkxwLb5gXLtHhk
Parents Grieving the Loss of a Child (any age)
- Compassionate Friends (child loss); has local chapters: https://www.compassionatefriends.org
- Emmaus Ministry for Grieving Parents (Catholic; approved by US Conference of Catholic Bishops): https://www.emfgp.org/
- Emmaus Ministry Bibliography: https://cdn.emfgp.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1-22-Bibliography-for-Grieving-Parents.pdf
- Red Bird Ministries (approved by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops) for any child loss (pregnancy through adult children): https://www.redbird.love
- Therapy, spiritual direction, app for online support https://apps.apple.com/us/app/red-bird-ministries/id1640873677
Resources specific to traumatic loss (accident, heart attack, homicide, suicide, overdose)
- Call 988, the suicide and crisis lifeline
- Catholic teaching regarding suicide: https://catholicmhm.org/whenalovedonediesbysuicide
- Peer-to-Peer Support in Orange County: Mon - Fri | 7:30 AM - 9:30 PM; Sat - Sun | 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM: 714-New Hope or 714-639-4673
- https://friendsforsurvival.org/helpful-books
https://www.wingsgrief.org/nans-published-articles
https://friendsforsurvival.org
Books for Grieving Adults
Bernstein, Judith R. When the Bough Breaks. Forever After the Death of a Son or Daughter.
Bolton, Iris with Curtis Mitchell. My Son...My Son... A Guide to Healing After Death, Loss or Suicide.
Buechner, Frederick. Telling Secrets. A Memoir.
Cacciatore, Joanne: Bearing the Unbearable
Cobain, Beverly, and Larch, Jean. Dying to be Free. A Healing Guide for Families after a Suicide.
Collins, Judy. Sanity and Grace. A Journey of Suicide, Survival, and Strength.
D'Arcy, Paula: Gift of the Red Bird, A Spiritual Encounter.
Didion, Joan: The Year of Magical Thinking
Dobson, James. When God Doesn't Make Sense. Holding onto your faith during the hardest times.
Griefshare. Your Journey from Mourning to Joy (manual to accompany groups).
Griefshare. Surviving the Holidays. A Survival Guide.
Holzer, Jason. Shattered by Suicide, Renewed by Resilience. How to Move Forward After Being Left Behind.
Hutchinson, Gloria. Damage Done. Suicide of an Only Son.
Kessler, David. Finding Meaning. The Sixth Stage of Grief.
Kushner, Harold S. When Bad Things Happen to Good People.
Leon, Elizabeth. Let Yourself Be Loved: Big Lessons From a Little Life
Lewis, CS: A Grief Observed
Lindbergh, Anne Morrow Lindbergh. Gift From the Sea
Mansbach, Adam. I Had a Brother Once. A Poem. A Memoir
Noel, Brook and Blair, Pamela. I Wasn’t Ready to Say Goodbye: Surviving, Coping and Healing After the Sudden Death of a Loved One.
Richardson, Jan. The Cure for Sorrow. A Book of Blessings for Times of Grief.
Rohlheiser, Ronald. Bruised and Wounded. Struggling to Understand Suicide.
Shulman, Nancy. Before and After Loss: A Neurologist's Perspective on Loss, Grief and Our Brain
Sittser, Jerry. When God Doesn't Answer Your Prayer. Insights to Keep You Praying with Greater Faith and Deeper Hope.
Taylor, Barbara Brown. Learning to Walk in the Dark.
Whitmore Hickman, Martha. Healing After Loss: Daily Meditations
Wolfelt, Alan. Healing a Parent's Grieving Heart. 100 Practical Ideas After Your Child Dies.
Books to help with traumatic loss (accident, heart attack, homicide, suicide, overdose)
Alar, Chris (MIC) and Lewis, Jason (MIC). After Suicide. There’s Hope for Them and for You.
Bernstein, Judith R. When the Bough Breaks. Forever after the Death of a Son or Daughter.
Bolton, Iris with Curtis Mitchell. My Son...My Son... A Guide to Healing After Death, Loss or Suicide.
Buechner, Frederick. Telling Secrets. A Memoir.
Cobain, Beverly, and Larch, Jean. Dying to be Free. A Healing Guide for Families after a Suicide.
Collins, Judy. Sanity and Grace. A Journey of Suicide, Survival, and Strength.
Holzer, Jason. Shattered by Suicide, Renewed by Hope.
Hutchinson, Gloria. Damage Done. Suicide of an Only Son.
Mansbach, Adam. I Had a Brother Once.
Rohlheiser, Ronald. Bruised and Wounded. Struggling to Understand Suicide.
Schoener, Ed and Dolan, John P. When a Loved One Dies by Suicide. Comfort, Hope and Healing for Grieving Catholics.
Sittser, Jerry. When God Doesn’t Answer Your Prayer.
Wolfelt. Alan D. The Wilderness of Suicide Grief. Finding Your Way.
Healing Your Traumatized Heart. 100 Practical Ideas After Someone You Love Dies a Sudden, Violent Death.
Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange Suicide Support (click on link)
· Catechism of the Catholic Church on Suicide (2280-2283)
· Aleteia Article: Pope prays for those with mental illness and victims of suicide. 10/10/21
· Intercessory Prayers Addressing Mental Illness, Suicidality, and Suicide Loss
· RECongress PowerPoint on Suicide and the Church - Deacon Ed Shoener, March2022
· Guidelines for Mental Health Crisis Management - Archdiocese of Baltimore
· Prayer of the Faithful for Suicide Awareness Month
· Suicide and Our Misunderstandings, Ron Rolheiser, OMI. June 2022
· Karla Smith's Serenity Prayer from the film "When a Loved One Dies By Suicide"
· Prayer Service at the Place of Suicide
· Suicide Nurse Corner in English and Spanish - St. Joachim, Diocese of Orange
· Homily - Suicide Awareness Month - Deacon Ed Shoener
· Mass of Remembrance - Phoenix, Arizona - 9/4/22 (video)
· A Life Changed by Suicide: Bishop Dolan's Story (video)
· Living Rosary Prayers and Resources - Diocese of Rockford
· Homily - Suicide Remembrance and Healing Mass, Deacon Ed Shoener- 9/18/22
· Program-Suicide Remembrance Mass, Diocese of Scranton - 9/18/22
· Diocese of St Cloud - Bishop Neary Homily at Suicide Remembrance Mass 11/26/2023
· Supporting Families Impacted by Suicide
· Hope: A Guide for Faith Leaders to Help Prevent Youth Suicide
Books for Loss of a Spouse
Didion, Joan. The Year of Magical Thinking.
Hernandez Michelle Neff. Different After You: Rediscovering Yourself and Healing after Grief and Trauma
Laz, Medard. Coping When Your Spouse Dies.
Lewis, C.S. A Grief Observed.
Richardson, Jan. The Cure for Sorrow
Richardson, Ja. A Book of Blessings
Meekhof, Kristin and Windell, James. A Widow’s Guide to Healing: Gentle Support and Advice for the First 5 Years
Noel, Brook and Blair, Pamela. I Wasn’t Ready to Say Goodbye: Surviving, Coping and Healing After the Sudden Death of a Loved One.
Runawaywidow.blog: https://runawaywidow.blog/10-best-grief-books/
Widowmight.org: https://www.widowmight.org/books/
Wolfelt, Alan. Healing a Spouse’s Grieving Heart: 100 Practical Ideas When You Husband or Wife Dies.
Books for children who are grieving
Aliki. The Two of Them
Bergren, Lisa Tan (art by Laura J. Bryant). God Gave Us Heaven
Buscaglia, Leo. The Fall of Freddie the Leaf
Cammarata, Doreen. Someone I Love Died by Suicide
dePaola, Tommy. Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs
Doerrfeld, Cori. The Rabbit Listened
Foy, Judy. Buttons and the Butterfly
Melonie, Bryan and Ingpen, Robert. Lifetimes
Karst, Patrice (illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff). The Invisible String
Kubler-Ross, Elisabeth (illustrated by Heather Preston). Remember the Secret
Lies, Brian. The Rough Patch
Lucado, Max (illustrated by Sergio Martinez). You are Special
Olivieri, Laura (illustrated by Kristin Elder). Where Are You?
Silverstein, Shel. The Giving Tree
Tangvald, Christine Harder (illustrated by Anne Kennedy). Someone I Love Died
Helping someone who is grieving (books above may be gifts, too)
Hickman, Martha. Daily Meditations
Richardson, Jan. The Cure for Sorrow, A Book of Blessings for TImes of Grief
Wolfelt, Alan. 100 Practical Ideas for Helping Someone You Love Through Loss