Oakey's
Oakey's
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Local Groups

The following grief counseling and support groups are available in our region. These organizations offer help to people who have experienced loss through death.
  • Family Service of Roanoke Valley’s Community Grief and Loss Center

    Family Service of Roanoke Valley’s Community Grief and Loss Center, in partnership with Carilion Clinic Home Health and Hospice, offers support groups for children, adolescents, adults, couples and families. The groups facilitate healing for losses due to death by helping clients identify their strengths and teaching tools for healthy living. Perinatal Loss Group In conjunction with Carilion Clinic’s SHARE (Source of Help in Airing and Resolving Experiences), the group provides support for those who have experienced perinatal loss, including the death of a child up to one year old, or of an infant through miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy or stillbirth.

    Call 540.563.5316 x3014 for more information.


    Journey of Hope I (a closed support group) When: Includes four times a year; six consecutive weeks Tuesday’s May 2 – June 6 (6-7:30 p.m.) Thursday’s August 24 – September 28 (6-7:30 p.m.) Monday’s October 30 – December 4 (Noon – 1:30 p.m.)


    Where: Carilion Clinic Hospice (1615 Franklin Road Roanoke, VA 24016)


    What: Curriculum based support group for adults Screening required prior to attending unless you are a family who has received Carilion Clinic Hospice services


    Journey of Hope II (an open support group)


    When: Meets every other Monday from 6 – 7:30 p.m. 2017: 5/1, 5/15, 5/29 – No group due to holiday, 6/12, 6/26, 7/10, 7/24, 8/7, 8/21, 9/4 – No group due to holiday, 10/2, 10/16, 10/30, 11/13, 11/27, 12/11, 12/25 – No group due to holiday All groups meet at Family Service at 6 p.m. and end at 7:30 p.m.


    Where: Family Service of Roanoke Valley (360 Campbell Ave SW Roanoke, VA 24016)


    What: Psych educational


    Prerequisite: Journey of Hope I (inquire at Intake for exceptions) All groups are for 21 and older and are free to the community.


    Please call (540) 563-5316 Ext. 3014 to inquire.

  • Soul Survivors

    Soul Survivors is a bereavement support group for youth and their caregivers, guardians or parents. The program provides a caring, safe environment where participants are free to explore their feelings and concerns. Participants will learn that grief is not a process of forgetting, but remembering with less pain.


    Soul Survivors provides an opportunity for participants to meet others their age who know what it’s like to have experienced a death of someone they love. Participants will:


    • Share memories, explore feelings and remember loved ones through creative activities Focus on the needs of mourning, with activities such as coloring books for younger participants and private journals for older youths

    • Share a light meal with other participating families Soul Survivors is a free service of Carilion Clinic Hospice. Priority is given to first-time participants. Programs offered throughout the year. Call for dates and locations.

    SPRING PROGRAM: WHEN: March 6 – April 24, 2018 | Tuesdays from 6 – 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Jefferson College of Health Sciences 5th Floor101 Elm Ave., SE, Roanoke, VA 24013 Register or refer a child in need by calling 800-422-8482.

  • The Compassionate Friends, of the Roanoke Valley, Virginia

    The Roanoke Valley Chapter is part of The Compassionate Friends, a self-help organization offering friendship, support, understanding and HOPE to families who have experienced the death of a child. To learn more about The Compassionate Friends, visit the National website. Roanoke Valley Information Website Address: www.tcfroanoke.org/ Meeting Time: Second Thursday of each month 7:00 – 8:30 PM Location: Good Samaritan Hospice 2408 Electric Rd Roanoke, VA 24018 For more information: (540) 797-9470 Chapter Email: tcfroanoke@gmail.com

  • GriefNet.org

    GriefNet.org is an Internet community of persons dealing with grief, death, and major loss.

  • Gentle Shepherd Hospice Support Groups

    Adults: Mondays & Tuesdays, 12-1:30 p.m. Healing Hearts Grief Support Group for Children (Roanoke) One Monday Night a Month SUMMER GRIEF CAMP for Grades 3-12; Camp Braveheart at Camp Ridge Haven, Brevard, NC All Grief Support Programs are free of charge and open to the community. Please contact Amanda Stephens at 800.789.0586 for more information.

  • Good Samaritan Hospice

    In addition to the care our grief and bereavement counselors provide hospice patients and their families, the Good Samaritan social work team offers a number of support services available to families as well as the general public, including: Living With Loss – Support group for adults grieving the loss of a loved one. Weekly sessions run for 8 weeks and combine education and group activities for discussion. Class is held two times per year in each office. Pre-registration is required. Call 776-0198 (Roanoke) or 381-3171 (NRV) for next meeting dates. Hope & Hot Chocolate – Held throughout the holiday season to help bereaved persons cope effectively with the demands of the holidays. Call 776-0198 (Roanoke) or 381-3171 (NRV) for next meeting dates. Women & Men’s Lunch Groups – An opportunity for those who have experienced the loss of a spouse or partner to get together for casual lunch and conversation. Call for meeting places/dates/times for Roanoke and NRV locations. Coffee and Conversation – Designed for those who have lost a loved one in their lives, these groups will provide an opportunity to enjoy coffee while sitting and chatting with others who are walking a similar path. The groups will be hosted by a Good Sam social worker who will facilitate the conversation. It is open to the public, and all are welcome to attend. There is no charge for the group, but participants are responsible for purchasing their own coffee. Coffee & Conversation meets the first Wednesday of the month at Land of a Thousand Hills coffee shop and the third Wednesday of the month at Sweet Donkey Coffee House. Both groups meet from 10 am-11:30 am. Call 381-3171 for meeting dates.

  • Puzzle Pieces

    Drop-in monthly meeting for bereaved adults interested in understanding grief better and being able to talk with others dealing with loss. Facilitated by hospice staff who help group members identify where they are in their own grief journey and gain new insights or coping tools. NRV office only. Meets the second Tuesday of each month from 12:30-1:30 pm at GSH Christiansburg office.

    For support group contact: Sandy Albright, Director of Social Work – NRV and Roanoke; 540.776.0198

  • Widowed Persons Support Group

    Brambleton Center; 3738 Brambleton Ave. SW; Roanoke, VA 24018-0798 Phone: (540) 772-7529; Contact: June Dudley

    Meets every 3rd Saturday at noon at the Brambleton Center. (Call to check time)

  • Medi Home Health & Hospice

    Coffee & Companioning

    1) 3rd Wed of January; April; July & October, 10 am @ Sherwood Memorial Park in the Large Living Room.

    2) Every 4th. Monday from 1:00-2:30 pm @ Medi Home Health Hospice – conference room: 5369 Peters Creek Rd NW Roanoke, VA 24019 Notification of intention for participation @ csmichael@msa-corp.com or 278-1322, at least 1 week prior

  • The Oakey Collection - Resources for End-of-Life Issues

    The Oakey Collection at Roanoke Public LibrariesResources for bereaved families and bereavement caregivers dealing with end-of-life issues. The collection, in memory of Samuel G. Oakey, II, includes materials for children and adults in both English and Spanish. Though primarily books, readers will also find videos, books on cassette and a magazine. Topics covered by the collection include: • Psychology of death • Grief and loss, funeral rites and customs • Afterlife & spirituality • Dealing with chronic illness • Caregiving & Hospice Care • Pain management • Suicide • Death of a child

Grief Support for Children and Teenagers

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