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Support Groups

Bereavement care offered by Fox Valley Volunteer Hospice is a philosophy of care which attempts to put control back into an individual’s life by providing support and assistance with immediate needs. For the latest schedule of support groups, please click here.

Bereavement options include:
  • Support groups led by trained facilitators
  • Support by a volunteer with special training in grief work
  • One-to-One short term grief counseling with one of our social workers
  • Opportunities for social interaction
Support groups are available for adults and children covering a wide variety of loss.  All bereavement services are provided free of charge and are available to anyone.  Many programs are offered in partnership with Provena Hospice and Provena St. Joseph Hospital.  


Available support groups include groups open to:

Anyone who has experienced a loss
  • Our Grief Journey
    Open to anyone who has experienced a death loss, this six-week program provides education and group support.  Registration is required.  Please call FVVH for more information.

  • Surviving Suicide
    This five week program is designed for those touched by suicide.  Please call (847) 695-3200 ext. 5767.

  • Grief Share
    This drop-in support group is open to anyone who has experienced a death loss and meets the third Thursday of each month at Provena St. Joseph Hospital at 7 p.m.

  • Men’s Coffee & Conversation
    This drop-in group for men who have experiences the death of a spouse, child or friend meets on the third Saturday of each month at 9 a.m. at FVVH.

Anyone who has experienced the death of a spouse/life partner
  • Pathways
    This seven-week support group assists mourners to accept the reality of the death and provides information to individuals about the grief journey.

  • Next Step
    This group is for those 59 and under.  Next Step provides groups support and topic focused discussions as well as other planned activities and meets at FVVH on the second and fourth Fridays of each month at 7 p.m.

  • Weaver’s Circle
    For those 60 and over, this group provides friendship and sharing and meets for dinner at local restaurants on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m.


Family Groups
  • Herbie’s Friends
    This program is open to adults and children ages four to eighteen.  Herbie’s Friends creates a safe environment where family members share their thoughts, feelings and stories.  A variety of activities including games, art, drama and puppetry may be used to encourage the expression of feelings.  Families enjoy a casual dinner and are led by trained facilitators during each 8-week session.  Registration is required.

Perinatal Loss
  • Footprints
    This program allows parents and adult family members coping with miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth or newborn death to cope.  Contact FVVH for more information.

  • Individual Bereavement Support
    Short-term grief counseling or support by volunteers trained in grief work is available to anyone in the community.  Contact Carol Ann Richeson at (630) 232-2233 for more information.

  • Communities in Schools
    Our clinical staff offers support to students and staff in Aurora Public Schools dealing with the loss of a loved on as well as the tragedy of gang violence.