Adult Grief Programs

There are no direct fees for participants to take part in any of these services

Mail Outreach Grief Support

Upon request, this service will provide information to bereaved individuals and their families about the different kinds of bereavement support offered by Surrey Hospice Society. Information about the grief process and encouraging readings are mailed at intervals during the first year after a death, as well as information about upcoming bereavement program dates.

To request Mail Outreach, please call Terri at 604-543-7006 or e-mail admin@surreyhospice.com

Grief Support by Telephone

The purpose of this six-week group is to provide support to adult participants grieving the death of someone significant in their life. This group provides a safe environment to explore the central needs of mourning as we share our individual stories. By teaching others about our grief experience we begin to learn how to integrate this loss into our life.

To request this service, please call Rosemary at 604.543.7006 or email at rosemary@surreyhospice.com

The following services take place at our Support and Resource Centre located at 13857 68th Avenue, Surrey BC

Individual or Group Counselling

Bereaved groups or individuals are offered a moderate number of counselling sessions with a Registered Clinical Counsellor, trained and experienced in grief work.

To request this service, please call Rosemary at 604.543.7006

Adult Grief Support Groups

Several times a year, groups are offered to support participants along their grief journeys. Information is shared about the grief process and participants have opportunities to share their stories, as well as to learn what is so difficult and what might help. Finding My Way is the 6 - week group most often accessed. Other special groups may be formed if the need arises. Groups may be held in an afternoon or an evening depending on participant availability. These groups are facilitated by our Registered Clinical Counsellor, Rosemary Brown.

To request information about upcoming groups, please call Rosemary at 604.543.7006

Nature's Amble Walking Group

Several times a year (alternating with Finding My Way), a walking group is available to bereaved persons. Overseen by our Registered Clinical Counsellor Rosemary Brown, this group is facilitated by trained, experienced volunteers. The group meets at the Resource Centre, and then carpools to nearby parks and trails. Participants return to the Centre for refreshments and visiting. This group is held on Saturday mornings and runs for 6 weeks.

To request information about Nature’s Amble, please call Rosemary at 604.543.7006

Lending Library

The Resource Centre has a limited supply of books on topics which may assist grieving persons along their healing journey. Please call ahead (604-543-7006) to make sure the Resource Centre is open to peruse and borrow books.

Donations of books in memory of loved ones or of books which have been helpful during the grief journey are most welcome to recycle to those who need them.

Special Events

During each year, several events are offered which have proved meaningful to grieving folk. In November, we offer a Coping with the Holidays evening to assist people in planning and managing the potentially difficult holiday time ahead.

In December, our Celebrate a Life display in Guildford Mall offers grieving folk an opportunity to pay tribute to their loved one as they place an ornament on the festive tree and sign a special Book. Families with children often find this ritual meaningful also.

In January, a Gathering of Remembrance is hosted by Surrey Hospice Society. At a particularly dreary time of year, this beautiful evening of music, readings and ritual is a special time to honor loved ones again.

May brings our Walk of Remembrance/Dove Release which offers people an opportunity to honor their loved ones while walking beautiful Bear Creek Park (and if they are able to, to raise funds for SHS). Participants are also able to release a dove as a tribute.

Watch the website during the year for dates and locations of each of these special events.

What is Bereavement?

Bereavement is grief associated with death. The death maybe of a child before or after birth, of a parent or other family member, a friend, or anyone for whom you may have deep feelings. Death may have been sudden or coming after a long process. It could be from an accident, illness, suicide, substance overdose, or homicide.