Supporting You in Your Time of Grief
Tabitha’s comprehensive bereavement program offers support to spouses and family members during a time of loss.
Tabitha Hospice offers bereavement services for 18 months following the loss of your loved one.
- Individual grief support
- Grief support groups
- Educational grief events
- Phone call check-ins/support
- Remembrance services
- Mailings, including grief support, Embrace newsletter, resources and more
Tabitha Hospice Bereavement Coordinators
Our Bereavement Coordinators provide grief support following the death of your loved one.
Juanita Steenbakkers
Serving the Nebraska City Area
402.416.7365
Jason Padilla
Serving the Lincoln/Lancaster Area
402.366.6791
Dan Rogers
Serving the Grand Island, Kearney & York Areas
402.366.6791
Grief Support Groups & Remembrance Services
Tabitha is proud to offer Grief Support Groups throughout the year as a service to family members and friends experiencing the recent death of a loved one. The meetings promote healthy conversation between a Tabitha team member specifically trained in grief support and a small group of individuals going through a common experience.
The purpose of Tabitha’s grief support groups is to equip participants with the tools and resources needed to reinvest in life.
Grief Note
Springtime is a time of growth. The flowers are blooming, trees are sprouting their leaves and young animals are taking their first steps. The newness and hope of spring sure is magical, but what if you don’t feel that joy and hope this year? Don’t worry—that’s a normal part of grief.
Your world may seem shattered after the death of a loved one, and it may feel like life may never be the same. You might refuse to reflect on what life looks like without them. Parts of your life, hopes and dreams changed when they died.
A major part of the grief journey is coming to terms with change. If you are overwhelmed with your emotions, take time to breathe and ground yourself in the present. Acknowledge that you are still here, even if life looks a little different.
Your life changed without your consent, but you have options. Staying angry or sad are options. Moving forward, changing and continuing to love and honor your loved one are options, too.
Choosing one over the other doesn’t change how much you loved them—in fact, you may choose both options just depending on the day!
It will take time to understand life without your loved one. For example, you may have to take on tasks your spouse previously did, or you may choose to leave some things in the past. You will find a way to live a life that honors the impact they had, and continue to have, on you.
Grief is a journey without a defined end point. Take time to work on your grief: try journaling, talking to a family member or counselor, engaging in forms of expression of your grief through art or music, or simply sit quietly and let the memories and tears flow. Among this, don’t forget to engage in life, connect with others and find moments of peace and joy.
If you’d like to have a conversation about or discuss your grief journey, please reach out to a Tabitha Bereavement Coordinator.
Grief Book and Podcast Suggestions
Sometimes finding the right book, website or podcast can help you process thoughts, feelings and provide helpful insight or information. Check out suggestions by types of loss.
Tips for Caregivers
Assisting someone under hospice care can be difficult. Tabitha offers a variety of helpful articles from managing anticipatory grief, taking care of yourself, visiting with children, reminiscing, communication, spiritual health and talking to someone on hospice.
Anticipatory grief is a hard journey, and holidays make it even harder. Here are some tips to help cope with anticipatory grief.
Caretaking, in any instance, but especially during hospice care can be difficult. Try these tips to avoid caregiver burnout and support your mental health.
The best thing to do for children before visiting a loved one in a hospital or senior living community is to prepare them for the visit.
Sharing past recollections is valuable for your loved one as they near the end of their life. Use these helpful tips to talk to a loved one about their memories and experiences.
Using social media to communicate about sensitive subjects, like serious illness or impending death, requires thought and consideration.
When dealing with a serious illness and death, spiritual issues often arise. Here are some tips to keeping the faith when grieving.
Determining how to approach a loved one about their chronic illness or death in general is challenging, but can be easier when you have the facts.
Grief has many elements. Sometimes we focus on one aspect over and over, also referred to as “looping.” Here are tips to help cope with “the loop.”