A New Year

A new year can be an exciting time full of possibilities. It can also be a sad time when it means you’re saying goodbye to the last year in which a loved one lived. 

At one grief support gathering, a participant shared that she didn’t want to travel because she felt it was unfair to her deceased child who could no longer do so. Another participant shared that she DID want to travel for her deceased friend who could no longer do so. The first woman considered the other’s viewpoint and was open to it. We all grieve in our own ways.

According to psychologist J. William Worden, grief is work that requires the griever to actively participate by completing the four tasks of mourning:

Task #1 – To accept the reality of the loss
Task #2 – To work through the pain of grief
Task #3 – To adjust to an environment in which the deceased is missing
Task #4 – To find an enduring connection with the deceased while embarking on a new life

These tasks can be dealt with over and over again and in no particular order. The idea is that they are a map to help minimize getting stuck in bereavement. Seeking help from professionals can help guide you on this journey.

In addition, we offer education and support gatherings to create safe places to look at these tasks. We hope you consider attending one or all of the following:

• Monday’s Moments Grief Education and Support Complimentary Luncheons,  Mondays, January 13 and February 3 from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. at the Courtyard by Marriott, 1730 University Drive, State College. Email Jackie@JackieHook.com, call 814-404-0546 or sign up on the Koch Funeral Home Facebook page to RSVP by Thursday, January 9 and Thursday, January 30 respectively.


• Death Café, the third of Monday of the month, January 20 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Webster’s Bookstore Café, 133 East Beaver Avenue, State College with complimentary desserts provided by Webster’s.

• Remembering with Love: A Ceremony Honoring Your Loved One Who Died, Sunday, February 9 at 2:00 p.m. at the Wyndham Garden Inn, 310 Elks Club Road, Boalsburg with light refreshments served. Please RSVP by contacting Jackie Hook at Jackie@JackieHook.com or calling 814-404-0546 or by visiting the Koch Funeral Home Facebook page by Wednesday, February 5.
   
• Your Life Relaunched, Monday, February 17 at 6:30 p.m. at The ATTIC of the State Theatre, 130 West College Avenue, State College. Admission is $7.00 and tickets are available at http://thestatetheatre.org/.

For more information about these programs, please visit Koch Funeral Home website’s Bereavement Gatherings and Events section under the Local Resources tab. All of these events are open to the public and space is limited.

Jackie Hook, MA, is a spiritual director, celebrant and end-of-life doula.  She coordinates the Helping Grieving Hearts Heal program through Koch Funeral Home in State College.  For more information, please call 814-237-2712 or visit www.kochfuneralhome.com.