Riverside Funeral Directors

          Brian D. Kuratko

          Owner/Director

          708-609-5585

Grief Resource Center

We strive to educate, inform, and enlighten people by providing valuable information and resources. Additionally, we offer resources to assist you in making intelligent decisions regarding the funeral planning process and some of life's difficult decisions.

We serve as a resource for grieving individuals and families by assisting with support, providing information about the grieving process and helping you with your personal journey through the grief process.

Support Groups

Information for Widows and Widowers

AARP

Widowed Persons Service

601 E. St. NW

Washington D.C. 20049

(202) 434-2277 or (800) 424-3410

http:// www.aarp.org/griefprograms/wps.html 

THEOS (They Help Each Other Spiritually)

322 Blvd. Of the Allies # 105

Pittsburgh, PA 15222

(414) 471-7779

Information for Parents Who Have Experienced the Death of a Child

The Compassionate Friends

P.O. Box 3696

Oak Brook, Illinois 60522-3696

(630) 990-0010 OR (877) 969-0010

http://www.compassionatefriends.org

Parents of Murdered Children

100 East Eight Street, Suite B41

Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

(513) 721-5683 or (888) 818-POMC

http:// www.pomc.com

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Alliance

1314 Bedford Avenue, Suite 210

Baltimore, MD 21208

(800) 221-SIDS

http://www.sidsalliance.org

Candelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation

3910 Warner Street

Kensington, MD 20895

(800) 366-2223

http:// www.candlelighters.org

For Grieving Children

Doughy Center

P.O. Box 86852

Portland, OR 97286

(503) 775-5683

For Homicide

Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD)

P.O. Box 541688

Dallas, Texas 75354-1688

(800) GET-MADD

http://www.MADD.org 

Safe Horizon

2 Lafayette St.

New York, N.Y. 10007

(212) 577-7700

24-hour Hotline (212) 577-5777

http://www.safehorizon.org

For Suicide

American Association of Suicidology

4201 Connnecticut Ave. NW #408

Washington D.C. 20008

(202) 237-2280

http://www.suicidology.org

For Terminal Illness

Make Today Count Cancer Action Inc.

255 Alexander Street

Rochester, NY 14607

(716) 423-9700

http://www.canceraction.org

For Hospice Care

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization

1700 Diagonal Road, Suite 300

Arlington, VA 22314

(703) 837-1500

http://www.nhpco.org

http://www.hospiceinfo.org

For AIDS

AIDS Action

1906 Sunderland Place, NW

Washington DC 20036

(202) 817-1822

http://www.selfhelpweb.org

For Support Groups

National Self-Help Clearinghouse

Graduate School and University Center of the City University of New York

36 5th Avenue, Suite 3300

New York, NY 10016

(212) 817-1822

http:// www.selfhelpweb.org

Helping a Friend in Need

A person who is grieving the loss of a loved one is a friend in need of your caring and understanding. This is what friendship is all about.

Listed are some suggestions on what you can do to help.

• Attend the funeral of your friend's loved one. Being at the funeral emphasizes to your friend that your friendship is important and you will be there for them to call on.

• Offer to listen. Tell the bereaved person, "I can't relate to what you're going through, but if you want to talk, I'm here to listen." Someone who is grieving needs to talk about his or her emotions.

• Don’t tell him or her to “get over it” or explain how “death is a part of life.” People differ in the amount of time it takes to overcome a loss. There is a fine line between being supportive and being insensitive. Let the person know you are there to support them, not judge. Survivors need to talk about their loved ones for months, sometimes years. Healing is not an overnight process.

• It's okay to cry.

• Laughter heals. One of the most important things you can do is to help your friend focus on the good memories and fun times that live on.

• A hug or squeeze of the hand goes a long way toward providing lasting comfort.

• Send a letter recalling all the great times you have shared together.

• Make a memorial contribution to their favorite charity.

• Stay in touch. Call them often on the phone and let them know you have not forgotten them.

• Be the friend you were before. Take over a meal. Invite your friend to your home. Go out to lunch, dinner or shopping. Offer to take the kids for a night. See a movie together.

• Don't wait to be asked. Show that you care in whatever way is comfortable for you. This is what friendship is all about.

Online Grief Referrals

Association For Death Education and Counseling

Counseling for Loss and Life Changes

Death And Dying

Grief Resources Catalog

Grief Net

GROWW

Maximum Living Consultant

The Mining Company Guide To Death & Dying

National Public Radio's Series On Death

Renew: Center For Personal Recovery

Sympathy Sharing