Local Support Groups
When you experience the death of a loved one, you are often left unprepared for the overwhelming emotional, physical and spiritual upheaval that follows. At Abels & French-Hand Funeral Homes we understand that our support to you does not end with the funeral service. Rather, our pledge is to continue to serve and care for you in the time following the funeral experience. For this reason, we offer a multi-faceted AfterCare program.
Throughout the year you will experience special days and times of tradition and the need for a listening ear. It is our honor to be present to you during these times especially. We are privileged to recognize the continued significance of your loved one in your life and the relationship of memory you share with them now.
Bridges Support Group
Bridges to Hope Grief Support Group provides education and support for the physical, emotional and spiritual demands of grief. The group will be most beneficial for those whose loss occurred three or more months ago. For more information about Bridges to Hope Grief Support Group or for referral to a grief group in your area, please call Robyn at 319.824.3319 or 319.830.4333.
AfterCare Events and Activities
Cherish the Child – Walk to Remember – held annually near Memorial Day this very special event is for anyone who wants to honor the memory of a child who has died at any age (miscarriage – adulthood). For more information contact Robyn.
Family Resource Guide – includes helps for taking care of final business and helps for taking care of yourself and your family in this time of loss and grief.
Hope Newsletter – published twice annually with news of upcoming AfterCare activities and articles to help you find hope and healing in times of grief.
Web Links
For Adults:
- www.centerforloss.com (Dr. Alan Wolfelt, Center for Loss and Life Transition)
- www.griefwatch.com (resources for children and adults)
- www.starrtraining.org/tlc (National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children / Parent Resource Center)
- www.compassionatefriends.org (for those who have lost a child at any age)
- www.griefinc.com (Darcie Sims, Ph.D.)
For Children's Grief Support:
North Central & North East Iowa: Eucalyptus Tree, a program of Cedar Valley Hospice www.cvhospice.org
Northern Iowa: Camp Green Tree A program of Hospice of North Iowa, Camp Green Tree is an overnight camp for grieving children. To learn more contact Autumn Hawver at 1.800.297.4719
Across Iowa: Amanda the Panda www.amandathepanda.org
Eastern Iowa & Western Illinois: Rick's House of Hope for Grieving and Traumatized Children
Web-based support for grieving teens with articles to read and on-line support group moderated by a certified hospice bereavement counselor: www.hov.org/teen_grief
Reading List for Adult Grief Support
After the Flowers: Life Beyond Widowhood - M. Nye
After Suicide - John H. Hewett
All Alone: Surviving the Loss of Your Spouse - Kathleen Rawlings Buntin
A Man You Know is Grieving-James Miller& Thomas Golden
But I Never Thought He'd Die: Practical Help for Widows - M. Nye
Chicken Soup for the Grieving Soul: Stories About Life, Death and Overcoming the Loss of a Loved One - Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen
Coping with Life after Your Mate Dies - D. Cushenberry and R.C. Cushenberry
Doors Close, Doors Open: Widows Grieving and Growing - M. Lieberman
Father Loss, How Sons of All Ages Come to Terms With the Death of Their Dads-Neil Chetnik
Footsteps Through Grief-Darcie D. Sims & Alicia S. Franklin
Good Grief-Granger Westburg
The Grief Recovery Handbook - John W. James, Russell Friedman
Healing a Father's Grieving Heart-William Shatz
For men
Healing the Adult Siblings Grieving Heart-Alan D. Wolfelt Ph.D.
100 practical helps for the unique grief after the death of a sibling
Hello from Heaven-Bill and Judy Guggenheim
How to Go On Living When Someone You Love Dies - Therese A. Rando, Ph.D.
I'm Grieving as Fast as I Can: How Young Widows and Widowers Can Cope and Heal - L. Feinberg
Instantly a Widow - R. Sissom
A Christian faith perspective on healing after sudden loss
I Remember, I Remember-Enid Traisman
A keepsake journal for the whole family to cherish
Just Us-Wanda Henry Jenkins
For those who have lost a loved one by homicide
Letter to My Husband: Notes About Mourning and Recovery - J. Truman
Living in the Shadow of the Ghosts of Grief-Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D.
This compassionate guide will help you learn to identify and mourn your carried grief so you can go on to live the joyful, whole life you deserve.
Living with Grief, Loss in Later Life - Kenneth J. Doka
Living with Grief at Work, School, Worship - Joyce D. Davidson
Losing a Parent-Fiona Marshall
Military Widow: A Survival Guide-Joanne M. Steen & M. Regina
Moments for Those Who Have Lost a Loved One - Lois Mowday Rabey
Older Bereaved Spouses - D. Lund
The Other Side of Grief-Darcie D. Sims & Alicia S. Franklin
For those who have been on the path of grief for sometime and wonder 'What does the other side of grief look like?'
Starting Over: Help for Young Widows and Widowers - Adele Nudel
Suicide Survivor's Handbook-Trudy Carlson
Survival Handbook for Widows (and for relatives and friends who want to understand) - R. J. Loewinsohn
Understanding Your Grief - Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D.
10 Essential Touchstones for Finding Hope
Tear Soup-Pat Schweibert
When Men Grieve-Elizabeth Levang
For women who want to better understand how men grieve
When Someone You Love Completes Suicide-Sondra Sexton Jones
Why Are the Casseroles Always Tuna?-Darcie Sims
Widow to Widow-Genevieve Davis Ginsburg
Women in Mourning-Jean Clayton
The Widow's Financial Survival Guide-Nancy Dunnan
The Widow's Handbook: A Guide for Living - C. Foehner and C. Cozart
The Wilderness of Grief: Finding Your Way-Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D.
Reading List for Children, Adolescents, & Those Who Care for Them
After a Parent's Suicide - Margo Requarth, MN MFT
Helping children heal
A Child's View of Grief-Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D.
For parents and other caregivers
Brave Bart-Caroline Sheppard
A story for traumatized and grieving children
But I Didn't Say Good-bye: Helping Children and Families After a Suicide- Barbara Rubel
Don't Despair on Thursdays-Adolf Moser
Explaining Death to Children - Earl A. Grollman
Facing Change - Donna O'Toole
Falling apart and coming together again in the teen years - A book about change for teens
Healing Your Grieving Heart for Kids-Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph. D
100 Practical ideas, simple advice, and activities for children after death
Healing Your Grieving Heart for Teens - Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D.
100 Practical ideas, simple advice, and activities for teenagers after death
How It Feels When a Parent Dies-Jill Krementz
I Heard Your Mommy Died-Mark Scrivani & Susan Aitken
I Heard Your Daddy Died-Mark Scrivani & Susan Aitken
I Miss You: A First Look at Death-Pat Thomas & Leslie Harker
Lifetimes: The Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Children-Bryan Mellonie & Robert Ingpen
Ready...Set...R.E.L.A.X.-Jeffery S. Allen & Roger J. Klein
For ages 5-13. Exercises and activities to help children overcome anxiety
Sarah's Journey-Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D.
Sad Isn't Bad-Michaelene Mundy & R. W. Alley
What's Heaven - Maria Shriver
When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death-Laurie Krasny Brown & Marc Brown
Reading List for Those Who Have Lost a Child
Empty Cradle, Broken Heart - Deborah L. Davis, Ph.D.
Surviving the death of your baby
For Better or Worse-The Centering Corporation
A book to strengthen marriages after a child dies
Grief of Parent: When a Child Dies-The Compassionate Friends
The Grief of Grandparents-Centering Corporation
Later Courtney: A Mother Says Goodbye-Susan Evans
Miscarriage - Sherokee Ilse and Linda Hammer Burns
Miscarriage: A Man's Book-Rick Wheat
Our Stories of Miscarriage - Rachel Faldet and Karen Fitton
Remembering the Death of a Child - Robert R. Thompson, M.D.
Silent Cradle - Judy Gordon Morrow and Nancy Gorden
Help and understanding in time of pregnancy loss
Silent Sorrow - Guidance and Support for You and Your Family - Ingred Kohn, MSW and Perry-Lynn Moffitt
Strong and Tender-Perinatal Loss
A guide for the father whose baby has died
When Winter Follows Spring-Dorothy Ferguson
Waiting with Gabriel - Amy Kuebeleck
A story of cherishing a baby's brief life
When a Baby Dies - Rana K Limbo, Sara Rich Wheeler and Susan T. Hassel
The Worse Loss : How Families Heal From the Death of a Child- Barbara D. Rose
Music Selections
To comfort your soul & express the feelings words alone cannot convey
| Artist |
Selection |
| James Taylor Live |
Secret of Life |
| Andrea Bocelli & Celine Dion |
The Prayer |
| Kenny Loggins |
Return to Pooh Corner |
| Leeann Womack |
I Hope You Dance |
| Marc Cohn |
The Things We've Handed Down |
| Mary Chapin Carpenter |
10,000 Miles |
| Steven Curtis Chapman |
Cinderella |
| Josh Groban |
To Where You Are |
| Josh Groban |
You Raise Me Up |
| Celine Dion |
Fly |
| Simon & Garfunkel |
Old Friends and Bookends |
| Kathy Zavada |
My Angel |
| Reba McIntyre |
If I'd Only Have Known |
| John McDermott |
One Small Star |
| Ashley Gearing |
Can You Hear Me When I Talk to You? |
| Luther Vandross |
Dance With My Father |
| Neil Diamond |
I Believe in Happy Endings |
| Barry Manilow |
Memory |
| Barry Manilow |
This One's For You |
| Barry Manilow |
When October Goes |
| Ray Boltz |
An Anchor Holds |
| Ray Boltz |
My Father's Son |
| Chris Tomlin |
I Will Rise |
| Chris Tomlin |
Strength Will Rise (based on Isaiah 40) |
| Mark Shultz |
Walking Her Home |
| Mark Shultz |
He Will Carry Me |
| MercyMe |
I Can Only Imagine |
| Steven Curtis Chapman |
Be Still and Know |
| Steven Curtis Chapman |
With Hope |
The following songs come from Christian Hymnody:
| There is a Balm in Gilead |
African American Spiritual |
| Amazing Grace |
John Newton 1770 |
| It is Well With My Soul |
Horatio Spafford 1873- a song of faith written upon the death of his four daughters by shipwreck. For the complete story of this and other hymns see the book Amazing Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions. |
| This is a Day of New Beginnings |
Brian Wren, 1978 |
| Something Beautiful |
Gloria and William Gaither, 1971 |
| Because He Lives |
William Gaither, 1971 |
| Precious Lord, Take My Hand |
Thomas A. Dorsey, 1932 |
| Hymn of Promise |
Natalie Sleeth, 1986 |
| What a Friend We Have in Jesus |
Joseph Scriven, 1855 |
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