Grief Support
PERSPECTIVES
 A program of support and information sponsored by A. J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Directors, and coordinated by Mary Jamerino.
When death occurs, it is often accompanied by a period of adjustment for family and friends. This normal response is known as grieving. There is no "proper" way to grieve, but it is important to do so since it is through the grieving process that healing is achieved. It often helps to share one's concerns with those who understand, to view the event in perspective.
To help meet such needs in the community, a program called PERSPECTIVES, is provided at no charge. It is designed to lend personal support and information, as well as to assist in emotional and educational interactions.
OBJECTIVES
- Offer educational and emotional support for individuals and families experiencing loss
- Provide specific information on community resources and groups designed to help bereaved families
- Provide personal counseling for those needing assistance in time of loss
- Assist churches, hospitals, schools and other interested groups with educational programs on personal loss and grief management
FEATURES
- For families we serve, Mary Jamerino is available for personal discussion regarding the recent death as well as introducing the network of support systems within the community.
- For a variety of resources for the bereaved and caregivers, see GriefWords Library.
- During the year, a grief support program, "Take Time To Heal" is offered - designed to assist anyone in the community who is dealing with the death of a loved one. For schedule, see Community Events.
- Mary Jamerino is available for telephone consultation - providing a community contact for bereavement information. She can be reached at 248-362-2500. Other funeral home personnel are available any time at either location to answer questions on the subject matter.
- Speakers are available for any group on subjects related to funerals, bereavement and recovery.
- The funeral home is available to schools, churches, hospitals and community groups as a resource center for tours and information.
- An extensive lending library at the funeral home in Troy is available to anyone seeking information on the subjects of dying, death and bereavement.
- GriefWords is a comprehensive library of articles for bereaved families and bereavement caregivers.
ADDITIONAL GRIEF RESOURCES
- A list of helpful grief and bereavement books suggested by Mary Jamerino include (all are available at the funeral home library):
How to Go on Living when Someone You Love Dies by Therese A. Rando
Healing After Loss: Daily Meditations For Working Through Grief by Martha Whitmore Hickman
I Wasn't Ready to Say Goodbye by Brook Noel and Pamela Blair
How to Survive the Loss of a Love by Melba Colgrove, Ph.D., Harold H. Bloomfield, M.D., Peter McWilliams
I'm Grieving as Fast as I Can How Young Widows and Widowers Can Cope and Heal by Linda Feinberg
Widow to Widow by Genevieve Ginsburg
On Your Own A Widow's Passage to Emotional and Financial Well-Being by Alexandra Armstrong and Mary R. Donahue
Widower When Men are Left Alone by Scott Campbell and Phyllis R. Silverman
Learning to Say Goodbye When a Parent Dies by Eda LaShan
How Do We Tell the Children Helping Children Two to Teen Cope When Someone Dies by Dan Schaefer and Christine Lyons
Guiding Your Child Through Grief by Mary Ann and James Emswiler
Helping Children Cope with Grief by Alan Wolfelt, Ph.D.
Tough Boris by Mem Fox
When a Baby Dies: A Handbook for Healing and Helping by Rana K. Limbo and Sara Rich Wheeler
Why Mine? For Parents Whose Child is Seriously Ill by Joy and Marvin Johnson with Billy Williams
- Anyone seeking information and books on the subjects of dying, death and bereavement may visit the extensive library at the funeral home in Troy or speak to Mary Jamerino, Bereavement Counselor.
- Some other local support groups include:
WIDOWED FRIENDS - provides support for widowed men and women of all ages to cope with the loss of their spouse, experience spiritual growth and complete their healing journey. Widowed Friends is a faith-based ministry formed under the auspices of the Archdiocese of Detroit, office for Family Life. Visit www.widowedfriends.org for more information.
FRIENDS SUPPORTING PARENTS - Support after neo-natal death, stillbirth and miscarriage at St. Thomas Lutheran Church, Sterling Heights: 586-323-9242 or 888-301-8001.
TOMORROW'S CHILD - Support for infant losses: www.tomorrowschildmi.org/ or 517-485-7437 or 800-331-7437.
HANDLING EMOTIONAL LOSS OF PREGNANCY - Support for miscarriage, stillbirth, or newborn loss at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Oakland, Pontiac: 248-858-3526.
SANDCASTLES - Support for children and their families after the death of a family member or friend through Hospices of Henry Ford Health Systems: www.aboutsandcastles.org/ or (313)874-6881.
PARENTS OF MURDERED CHILDREN: www.pomc.com/metrodetroit/index.html or www.pomc.org or 248-360-9642.
- Additional grief and bereavement internet sources include:
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