Northeast Ohio Grief Support

We're Here to Help You Cope and Heal Before or After a Death

Our experienced staff is available to answer your questions about death and grieving. Contact us for information on grief support, or subscribe to our weekly newsletter for help when dealing with grief.

There are many free support groups across Northeast Ohio dedicated to helping those who are grieving. Below, you will find a list of resources to help you cope.

Helping a Loved One Grieve

Helping a loved one grieve can be just as difficult as if you experienced the death. Following are tips to help friends or loved ones through their grieving process.

• Write cards or letters—The bereaved can turn to these during lonely times.
• Invite conversations—Let your loved one talk about his or her feelings without embarrassment.
• Listen—You don’t need to fix the situation; just let them express their feelings.
• Visit and call often—Remember to respect the need for alone time.
• Plan activities—Don’t feel disappointed if your loved one declines.
• Provide a helping hand—Offer to assist with child or pet care, house sitting or yard work.
• Offer a touch—Hold hands or offer hugs.
• Share memories—Never avoid conversations about the deceased.
• Never judge—Believe in your loved one’s ability to get through the grief.
• Ask how you can help—See if you can prepare meals or invite them to dine out.
• Invite your loved one to stay over—or stay at his or her house for company.

Local Grief Support Groups

Please note that Busch does not officially endorse or specifically recommend these resources but offers each as a suggestion.

Catholic Cemeteries

Avon, Akron, Brook Park, Cleveland, Northfield, Chardon
216-930-4866
www.clecem.org

Catholic Diocese

1404 East 9th Street, Cleveland, OH 44114
216-334-2974
jrlewis@catholiccharities.org

Christ Church

23080 Royalton Road, Columbia Station, Ohio 44028
440-236-8282
http://christchurchohio.org/

Christ Church offers a variety of support groups with one specifically for grief support called GriefShare.

CJ Hendry

25000 Center Ridge Road, Suite 6, Westlake, Ohio 44145
440-892-7034
https://cjhendry.com/

CJ Hendry provides quality counseling for children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families through an individualized, collaborative treatment approach.

Cornerstone of Hope

5905 Brecksville Road, Independence, Ohio 44131
216-524-HOPE
www.cornerstoneofhope.org

Counseling, support groups, camps and events for bereaved children, teens and families.

Holy Family Hospice

6-Week Support Group
440-545-7031

Jesuit Retreat House

State Rd, Parma
440-884-9300

O'Neill Healthcare Hospice

Grief Recovery 8-Week Sessions
440-328-8141
Chaplain@oneillhc.com

St. Bartholomew and Holy Family Parishes

440-268-8020 (Chris)
440-785-5841 (Darlene

St. Albert the Great

6667 West Wallings Road, North Royalton, OH 44133
440-237-6760
https://saint-albert.org/

St. Albert the Great offers "Seasons of Hope" a six-week grief support group, as well as support for individuals and caregivers.

Visiting Nurses Association of Ohio

2500 E. 22nd Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44115
216-694-6236
http://www.vnaohio.org/

Visiting Nurse Association of Ohio is the largest not-for-profit, home-based healthcare and hospice provider in Ohio.

Resources for Children and Families

Cornerstone of Hope

5905 Brecksville Road, Independence, Ohio 44131
216-524-HOPE
www.cornerstoneofhope.org

Counseling, support groups, camps and events for bereaved children, teens and families.

Joel's Place for Children

Bay Village, Ohio 44140
440-248-4412
www.joelsplaceforchildren.org

Certified Bereavement Facilitators, Mary Willhite, L.S.W., and Kathy Stellato, R.N., founded Joel's Place for Children in 2003. They continue to lead the support groups and train and supervise the volunteer facilitators. Meetings are on the East and West side of Cleveland. Call for more information.

The Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Bereavement Center—Hospice of Western Reserve

17876 St. Clair Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44110
216-486-6838
http://www.hospicewr.org/patients-and-caregivers/grief-and-loss

The Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Bereavement Center offers a variety of adult support groups, art therapy programs and groups for children and families. Call to find the location nearest you and to schedule a meeting.

FEEL (Families Experiencing Early Loss)—Fairview Hospital

3035 Wooster Road, Rocky River, Ohio 44116
216-476-6965
my.clevelandclinic.org

The Compassionate Friends, Inc.—Cleveland/Parma Chapter

6041 Ridge Road, Parma, Ohio 44129
440-327-8678
http://tcf-cle.net/

The goal of Compassionate Friends is to assist families toward the positive resolution of grief following the death of a child.

The Compassionate Friends, Inc.—Grafton

216-469-5311
708 Erie Street, Grafton, Ohio 44028

National Alliance for Grieving Children

866-432-1542
www.childrengrieve.org

National Alliance for Grieving Children is a support group for grieving children. Resources are available online and through meetings in the Cleveland area. For the location nearest you, visit the link above.

The National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children

313-885-0390 or 877-306-5256
www.starr.org

The National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children’s (TLC) offers parents, families and health care professionals a variety of grief resources for trauma education, training and consultation.

Tragic Loss

National Hope Hotline

800-784-2433
http://hopeline.com/

The National Hopeline Network provides access to trained telephone counselors, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Cornerstone of Hope

P.O. Box 31555, Independence, Ohio 44131
216-524-3787
www.cornerstoneofhope.org 

The Cornerstone of Hope is a center dedicated to providing support, love and hope for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. The Cornerstone of Hope is committed to meeting the spiritual, relational and emotional needs of children, teens, adults, spouses and families.

MADD National Office

800-GET-MADD (438-6233)
www.madd.org 

MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit grass roots organization with more than 600 chapters nationwide. MADD is not a crusade against alcohol consumption—MADD’s mission is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime, and prevent underage drinking.

National Organization for Victim Assistance

800-TRY-NOVA
www.trynova.org

The National Organization for Victim Assistance is a private, non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization of victim and witness assistance programs and practitioners, criminal justice agencies and professionals, mental health professionals, researchers, former victims and survivors, and others committed to the recognition and implementation of victim rights and services.

Parents of Murdered Children

100 East Eighth Street, Suite B-41, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
513-721-5683 Toll Free: (888) 818-POMC
www.pomc.com 

POMC® is dedicated to the bereavement care of friends or family who have lost a child through murder. Local chapters throughout the United States hold monthly meetings, provide support, advocacy and court accompaniment.

LifeAct (Suicide Prevention) 

29425 Chagrin Blvd. Suite 203, Cleveland, Ohio 44122
216-464-3471
http://lifeact.org/

LifeAct, formerly the Suicide Prevention Education Alliance (SPEA), is dedicated to preventing suicide by teaching young people to recognize the warning signs of suicide in themselves and their peers, and to seek professional help. 

Survivors of Suicide—Middleburg Heights Community Church

7165 Big Creek Parkway, Cleveland, Ohio 44130
440-467-2340

Suicide Survivor Support—Stein Hospice

1200 Sycamore Line, Sandusky, Ohio 44870
800-625-5269
www.steinhospice.org

Stein Hospice holds various support groups and social outings for adults who lost a loved one from suicide. Visit the website above for more information on meeting themes and times.

Child Guidance and Family Solutions

2305 East Aurora Road, Twinsburg, Ohio 44087
330-425-7111
https://www.cgfs.org/

Lakeshore Counseling Services

8221 Brecksville Road, Suite 103, Brecksville, Ohio 44141
5475 Liberty Avenue, Vermilion, Ohio 44089
800-600-5327 (Brecksville) or  440-963-0402 (Vermilion) 
https://www.lakeshoresupport.com/

Hospice and Support Organizations

Child Guidance and Family Solutions

2305 East Aurora Road, Twinsburg, Ohio 44087
330-425-7111
https://www.cgfs.org/?LG

Child Guidance and Family Solutions is a practice that provides emotional, mental and behavioral health services and programs to children, adolescents and adults. Visit the website listed above for support group information and grief resources.

Alzheimer’s Association

12200 Fairhill Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44120
216-721-8458
www.alz.org

The Alzheimer’s Association’s mission is to stand by those who are touched by Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias by advancing research and providing the information, care and support needed to live life as fully as possible throughout the journey.

Center for Loss

www.centerforloss.com

The Center for Loss and Life Transition is a private organization dedicated to furthering our understanding and compassion for the complex set of emotions we call grief.

Visiting Nurses Association of Ohio

2500 E. 22nd Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44115
216-694-6236
http://www.vnaohio.org/

Visiting Nurse Association of Ohio is the largest not-for-profit, home-based healthcare and hospice provider in Ohio.

Hospice Foundation of America

305-981-2522
www.hospicefoundation.org

Hospice Foundation of America is a not-for-profit organization that provides leadership in the development and application of hospice and its philosophy of care through programs of professional development, research, public education and information. Hospice Foundation of America assists those who cope either personally or professionally with terminal illness, death and the process of grief.

Hospice of the Western Reserve

300 East 185th Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44119
216-486-6838
www.hospicewr.org

The Hospice of the Western Reserve provides palliative end-of-life care, caregiver support and bereavement services throughout Northern Ohio.

River’s Edge Counseling Services

3430 Rocky River Drive, Cleveland, Ohio 44111
216-688-1111
www.riversedgecleveland.com

River’s Edge Counseling Services offers end-of-life counseling for individuals, couples and families.

Strongsville Psychological Services

14843 Sprague Road Suite A, Strongsville, Ohio 44136
440-234-9955
http://www.strongsvillepsychological.com/

Strongsville Psychological Services specializes in mood and anxiety disorders, stress and anger management, and grief loss.

Resources for Seniors

AARP Grief & Loss Programs

866-797-2277
www.aarp.org/griefandloss

The AARP Grief Support Line offers over-the-phone bereavement advice and counseling. Call toll free daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST.

Communication Connection

www.connectionsincommunication.com

Kathy Kilpatrick is a geriatric communication consultant dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of adults. Visit Kathy’s website above for an upcoming schedule of events.

Eldercare Professionals of Ohio

440-212-4987
http://eldercareofohio.com/

Eldercare Professionals of Ohio offers monthly networking events at several locations. Please visit the website above for your nearest location and event details.

Social Security Administration

800-772-1213 TYY: 800-325-0778
www.socialsecurity.gov

Funeral Association Resources

Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP)

866-431-2377
www.apfsp.com

The Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice is committed to providing a voluntary certification program to funeral service practitioners that shows families your commitment to exceptional service and life-long learning.

Association for Death Education and Counseling

860-586-7503
www.adec.org

ADEC is one of the oldest interdisciplinary organizations in the field of dying, death and bereavement. ADEC offers numerous educational opportunities through its annual conference, courses and workshops, its new certification program and via its acclaimed newsletter—The Forum.

Ohio Funeral Directors Association

2501 North Star Road, Columbus, Ohio 43221
614-486-5339
www.ohiofdaonline.org

Whether it’s education and training, professional networking, or a voice in the legislature, OFDA has something for you. We invite you to take advantage of the many services OFDA offers and become part of the strongest family of professional funeral associations in the country.

Thanos Institute

800-742-8257
http://shop.thanosinstitute.com/main.sc

Thanos Institute was founded in 1981 to help funeral directors educate the public through Home-Study Continuing Education for Licensed Funeral Directors and Embalmers and through educational programs for Funeral Associations.

The American Academy of Bereavement

800-726-3888
www.aab.wildapricot.org

The American Academy of Bereavement (AAB), a non-profit organization founded in 1993, is a national association devoted to the education, preparation and advancement of bereavement specialists. AAB serves as a stepping stone for professional and personal growth in the field of bereavement.

Books and Publications

Bereavement Publishing, Inc.

888-604-4673
www.bereavementmag.com

A publication that offers compassion and hope by providing the most current resources, information and tools for coping with life’s losses.

In-Sight Books

800-658-9262
www.insightbooks.com

Offers books, videos and resources in the areas of bereavement and elder care.

Genealogy / Virtual Records

Genealogy / Virtual Records

www.home.rootsweb.com

This is a general site that lists genealogical societies and their activities in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Medina counties.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention

www.cdc.gov

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains a directory of links to state and foreign offices responsible for vital records, including death certificates and other information that may be helpful to funeral directors and people involved with genealogy research.

Cuyahoga County Cemetery Records

http://www.deathindexes.com/ohio/cuyahoga-cleveland.html 

Genealogy how-tos for Cuyahoga County, as well as information on wills and estates. In addition, view selected cemetery transcriptions.

Lake County Genealogy

www.home.rootsweb.com

Information on Lake County cemetery inscriptions and death record transcripts.

Online Ohio Death Records and Indexes

http://www.deathindexes.com/ohio/index.html

Information on death records filed in Ohio.