By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
Losing a loved one is difficult on even the strongest person, a local group in St. Joseph is working to help those grieving gets through it.
The GriefShare program has been in St. Joseph for nearly 16 years now, the first ever group meeting at Brookdale Presbyterian Church.
Organizer Mary Noel Owens says the program is for anyone that is going through the loss of a loved one.
"That might be a spouse, a grandparent, a sibling, a child, a grandchild, a good friend, it just can be anyone, but no matter who it is your grief is real and it impacts everything in your life," Owens tells host of the KFEQ Hotline Barry Birr.
After beginning at Brookdale Presbyterian, GriefShare has now spread to two other St. Joseph churches, providing a 13-week program helping people through their grief journey.
Organizer Debbie Lyons says while suffering through the loss of a loved one, it's nice to have a group of people around you are going through the same thing.
"That have that connection with them, that know what they're going through, that understand and can truly be there for them when they need an ear to listen," Lyons explains. "Need somebody to just know their deep, deep sorrow because it is so overwhelming when you're going through that, and you feel so alone."
Lyons says they call the group their tribe and they want people to know there's a tribe of people who understand what they are going through.
Lyons knows firsthand the power of the 13-week GriefShare program, after going through it when her late husband passed away.
Lyons says at first when she was shown the program, she didn't feel like it would be something for her, so she knows how much courage it takes to come join the group.
"You don't know who's going to be in there that will understand what you're going through and it was, wow, the first four to five sessions I didn't remember initially what happened, but I never stopped going, I didn't miss a day," Lyons says.
GriefShare programs will be held on Wednesdays at Wyatt Park Baptist, located at 2902 N. Leonard Road in St. Joseph, beginning today, Brookdale Presbyterian located at 203 S. 31st Street in St Joseph on Thursdays, starting tomorrow, and Tuesdays at Three Oaks Hospice located at 1213 N. Belt Highway Suite E beside Spine and Sport in St. Joseph, beginning on September 5th.
If you are unable to make the first class, you can come at any time during the 13-week program.