Grief Support Programs in St. James

Grief is a unique experience for each person. Because of varied experiences of grief, the Hospice Bereavement Program in St. James, Minnesota, offers several types of free support services, which are open to residents of the communities served by Hospice.

Grief support programs include:

• Grief and the Holidays Seminar
  The Thanksgiving and Christmas season can be particularly difficult for someone who is grieving, especially the first ones following the death of a loved one. The 90-minute seminar helps participants identify ways to plan and prepare for the holiday season. The seminar is held annually in November in communities throughout the service area.
• Camp Oz
  This is a day-long grief camp for children and teens, ages 6 to 18, who have experienced the death of a loved one. The camp is a time to remember, share memories, have fun and connect with others who are grieving.
• Understanding Children's Grief Seminar
  This is an educational seminar for any concerned adult interested in understanding grieving children. This seminar is held in conjunction with Camp Oz.
• Journey Through Grief
  Our eight-week grief groups are open to all who are suffering the loss of a loved one through death. These groups explore the grief process, and allow time for sharing feelings, stories and experiences. Groups are offered each spring, summer and fall in Mankato.
• Teen Grief Group
  This grief group is open to all junior and senior high school students who have suffered the loss of a loved one through death. Teens will have an opportunity to gather and share with others who have experienced a loss and find comfort in knowing that they are not alone. This group is offered each fall in Mankato. Preregistration is necessary.
• Memorial services
  Each spring, Hospice and Palliative Care in Mankato sponsors a Celebration of Life memorial service honoring the lives of those whom we have served. All hospice families from the previous year are invited to attend. Each fall, we also sponsor tree lighting memory services in St. James and Waseca. In addition, Hospice sponsors an annual memorial service recognizing the children from our area who have died. This service is held on National Children's Memorial Day, which is the second Sunday in December.
• Individual and family grief support
  Our bereavement coordinator and trained bereavement volunteers are available for one-time or ongoing in-home support for grieving Hospice families and individuals.
• Additional grief support services
  We have many grief support programs, groups and educational events that are held throughout the year.

Visit our Classes & Events page for dates and times of our grief support programs. For more information about these programs and services, contact Hospice at 507-594-2618 or 800-327-3721, ext. 2618.