June 2013 Memorial Service Recap

On Saturday, June 15, 2013, we held our Semi-Annual Memorial Service at Grace Lutheran Evangelical Church (5800 Canal Blvd., NOLA). Included in the program for this service were:

• Pre-Service Music by St. Joseph Hospice Volunteer Jonathan E. Warren (Copies of his CD are on sale ($10) at the St. Joseph Hospice office.)

• Words of Inspiration

• Scripture Reading

• Congregational Songs led by our St. Joseph Hospice Friends & Family Ensemble

• A Responsorial Reading

• A Candlelighting Ritual

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Preparation of Our Memorial Wreath

• Butterfly Pins

• Reception for all attendees

Thank you to all our families who chose to participate. Our next service will be Saturday, December 7, 2013 at Grace Lutheran. That service will be similar to the one in June, with the primary difference being the preparation of the Memorial Tree instead of the wreath. Possibly you were invited to the June Memorial or maybe even a previous one, but chose not to participate for any variety of reasons (i.e., thought it was too soon after your loved one’s death, out of town, scheduling conflict), you have not missed your change to participate. Just give Kim a call at (504) 734-0140 or e-mail her at stjosephnober@yahoo.com and let her know of your desire to participate in the December service, and a special invitation will be mailed to you in October along with the other invitations for that service.

Link to “I’ll See You Again” by Westlife

Recently I was preparing for a presentation for our staff and came upon this song and video, and thought it might be helpful to someone: "I'll See You Again" by Westlife

July Seminar: “Griefbursts: What They Are and How to Deal With Them”

This seminar has been designed to explain the phenomena of “griefbursts” or “grief attacks.” They are sudden, sharp feelings of grief that can cause anxiety and pain, which may seem to come out of nowhere. Griefbursts are a normal, yet disconcerting, part of the grief process. We will discuss how to recognize them, but even more about how to deal with them when they occur.

Date: July 8, 2013

Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm

Where: LCCU Conference Room (#140) Louisiana Central Credit Union Building at 824 Elmwood Park Blvd.

August 2013 4-Session Support Group (Free of Charge)

We are offering a 4-Session Support Group for our St. Joseph Hospice family and friends. The sessions will meet each Thursday in February at the St. Joseph Hospice office (Suite 155 of the Louisiana Central Credit Union Building at 824 Elmwood Park Blvd.) from 6:00pm-7:30pm.

The group will discuss different aspects of the grief process, using Dr. William Worden’s Task Model of the Mourning Process as a general framework.

August 1 Accepting the Reality of the Loss

August 8 Working Through the Pain of Grief

August 15 Adjusting to an Environment in Which the Deceased is Missing

August 22 Emotionally Relocating the Deceased and Embracing Life Again

A small evening meal will be provided for each group meeting.

If you would like to register or just have questions, please call Kim at (504) 734-0140 or contact via e-mail at stjosephnober@yahoo.com.

Link to Article: “FATHER'S DAY AFTER YOUR DAD HAS DIED” By Neil Chethik

“FATHER'S DAY AFTER YOUR DAD HAS DIED” By Neil Chethik

Father’s Day Edition: Lessons Learned

My father didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.” ~

Clarence Budington Kelland

You’ve probably heard it said that “lessons are better caught than taught.” What lessons did you “catch” from your father and how could you put one or more of those lessons into practice this Father’s Day?

Lesson Learned: __________________________________________________________________________

How I Will Begin Applying This Lesson: ________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

Father’s Day Edition: Some Resources for Dealing with Fatherloss

FOR SONS:

• FatherLoss: How Sons of All Ages Come to Terms with the Deaths of Their Dads by Neil Chetnik
• When Your Father Dies: How a Man Deals with the Loss of His Father by Dave Veerman & Bruce Barton

FOR DAUGHTERS:

• Fatherless Women: How We Change After We Lose Our Dads by Clea Simon

Father’s Day Edition: “What Can I Do to Honor My Dad’s Memory This Father’s Day?”

Father’s Day is a special day in American culture...a day set aside to honor our fathers and/or those who have filled that father-role in our lives. Traditionally, this is a day of celebration, but for many each year, the day is one more reminder that our earthly fathers are no longer with us.

Just like the other “special” days in the calendar year, please consider making a plan for how you will spend this Father’s Day. The following ideas were part of an article on Neil Chetnik’s (author of FatherLoss: How Sons Deal with the Deaths of Their Dads) website, www.fatherloss.com. (Note: These ideas could also be adapted & used for other “special” days.)

• Be a mentor to a child whose father has died or who has no father in his life.
• Write a Father's Day card focusing on the things that you loved or appreciated about your dad.
• Wear an article of your father's clothing.
• If your father loved music, spend an hour listening to his favorite album.
• If your dad loved wood-working, use his saws, hammer and wood to build something simple or begin a new project.
• Cook your father's favorite meal for your family or friends.
• Read one of the books that your father loved.
• Donate some money to your father's favorite cause.
• Contact a current father-figure in your life whom you admire and tell him so.
• If you are a father, focus on being the best father you can be to your children.

I hope these suggestions have been helpful, but if you feel that you or someone you care about needs additional support, has questions about what he/she is experiencing, or would like information about services available to him/her, please don’t hesitate to call me at (504) 734-0140 or e-mail Kim at stjosephnober@yahoo.com.