Grief Support

Monthly Grief Counseling Meetings -
Kindred Spirits- A grief support group for adults who have experienced the death of a child meets at 276 North Main Street in Breese, Illinois, from 6:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Current meeting dates are April 12 and May 10. Please use the parking and door located on North 3rd Street. This is a free group, but donations of $20 per family per meeting are appreciated allowing them to keep resources and library well stocked. For more information or resources for individuals, couples, support groups, and community outreach, please visit coping4life.com. If you have any questions, please contact our Centralia office at 618-532-5511.

Books in our Library - Macz Funeral Home views the importance of maintaining current and relevant resources for families through their time of grief. Five new titles have been added to the funeral home’s library, four titles are children's books that are designed to help young children understand their grief and one title that affirms there is nothing wrong with grief. To inquire about checking a book out from our library, please contact our Centralia office at 618-532-5511.

The Memory Box by Joanna Rowland 

From the perspective of a young child, author Joanna Rowland artfully describes what it's like to remember and grieve a loved one who has died. The child in the story wonders if she will forget the person who has gone. Other days I wonder if I'll ever stop feeling sad you are gone.

Dear Daddy by Sara Trotter

Losing someone you love and care about brings up a lot of different emotions for everyone. Those emotions, especially for children, can be overwhelming and are sometimes hard to understand. After his father passes away, a little boy starts writing letters to him, and each letter he writes represents a stage in grief.

Why Do I Feel So Sad? by Tracy Lambert-Prater LPC 

This book is an inclusive, age-appropriate, illustrated kid's book designed to help young children understand their own grief. The examples and beautiful illustrations are rooted in real life, exploring the truth of loss and change, while remaining comforting and hopeful.

The Cardinal's Gift: A True Story of Finding Hope in Grief by Carole Heaney

Rachel's daddy died, and she is having a hard time adjusting. When tragedy affects Rachel’s family, she struggles to get out of bed and pay attention at school. But things begin to change when a special bird appears. This is a true story of how a cardinal offered hope to a grieving family struggling to adjust to their loss.

It's OK That You're Not OK by Megan Devine

When a painful loss or life-shattering event upends your world, here is the first thing to know: there is nothing wrong with grief. "Grief is simply love in its most wild and painful form," says Megan Devine. "It is a natural and sane response to loss." This is a book for grieving people, those who love them, and all those seeking to love themselves―and each other―better.

In addition to the bereavement services for the families we serve,  we have provided some helpful grief support links below: 

Crisis, Grief and Healing 

Webhealing.com, the first interactive grief website on the internet, offers discussion boards, articles, book suggestions, and advice for men and women working through every aspect of grief. The site’s founder, Tom Golden LCSW, has provided book excerpts and contact information to help those healing from loss.

Willowgreen   

Willowgreen offers support and information for those dealing with life transition & aging, illness & caregiving, loss & grief, and hope & spirituality.  The site offers advice, products, and inspirational materials.

Grief and Loss   

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) website contains a Grief & Loss section with grief-related articles and information.

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization   

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s website provides a host of information and resources for people facing a life-limiting illness or injury and their caregivers.

Aspire Integrated Health, PLLC

Aspire Integrated Health, PLLC, located in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, provides counseling services. Call (618) 634-7753 for more information.