Fox Valley Volunteer Hospice offers programs
Fox Valley Volunteer Hospice is offering a series of programs in November for those with life-threatening illnesses or who have recently experienced the death of a family member or friend. The programs are open to everyone in the community, and are offered free of charge.
• For those who have recently experienced the death of a loved one, Our Grief Journey is a six-week program from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays, beginning on Nov. 3.
• For those with life-threatening illnesses, or families who have recently lost a loved one, Life Review focuses on developing a written or spoken re-creation of one's life. A life review can help patients or bereaved families identify and communicate the meaning of life. This program will be held from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6.
• Help getting through the holidays for those who have recently lost a loved on can be found through Hope for the Holidays. A presentation from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 8 will offer practical advice to help participants cope with the holiday season. More in-depth support, including sharing with others having similar experiences, can be had at two upcoming sessions. One will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12 the hospice; another will be held at St. John Lutheran Church in Elgin at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17
• For families of those with terminal illnesses, Funerals - What to Expect will be presented from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12. The program will cover what to expect with an impending death and how to communicate openly about funerals. It is appropriate for children ages 5 through 18 and their parents.
• An ongoing support group specifically for men who have experienced a loss is MALES (Men After a Loss Expressing themselves Safely). The program addresses the difficulties that men in particular have in expressing and dealing with grief, oftentimes suffering silently alone. MALES meets for coffee and rolls the second Saturday of each month at 9 a.m.
Fox Valley Volunteer Hospice is at 200 Whitfield Drive in Geneva. There is no cost for the programs, but registration is required by calling (630) 232-2233. For details, visit fvvh.org.