Supporting You in Your Time of Grief

Tabitha’s comprehensive bereavement program offers support to spouses and family members during a time of loss.

Tabitha Hospice offers bereavement services for 18 months following the loss of your loved one.

  • Individual grief support
  • Grief support groups
  • Educational grief events
  • Phone call check-ins/support
  • Remembrance services
  • Mailings, including grief support, Embrace newsletter, resources and more

Tabitha Hospice Bereavement Coordinators

Our Bereavement Coordinators provide grief support following the death of your loved one.

Juanita Steenbakkers - Bereavement Coordinator

Juanita Steenbakkers

Serving the Nebraska City Area
402.416.7365

Jason Padilla - Bereavement Coordinator

Jason Padilla

Serving the Lincoln/Lancaster Area
402.366.6791

Daniel Rogers

Dan Rogers

Serving the Grand Island, Kearney & York Areas
402.366.6791

Grief Support Groups & Remembrance Services

Tabitha is proud to offer Grief Support Groups throughout the year as a service to family members and friends experiencing the recent death of a loved one. The meetings promote healthy conversation between a Tabitha team member specifically trained in grief support and a small group of individuals going through a common experience.

The purpose of Tabitha’s grief support groups is to equip participants with the tools and resources needed to reinvest in life.

Grief Note

In the children’s book “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” fairytale world Narnia is described as “Always winter and never Christmas.”

Similarly, some say that the process of grieving feels like a “perpetual winter” — cold, isolated, dark, lonely and unending. Maybe you have felt it before, or perhaps that’s what you’re going through now.

But like the natural cycle of our world, grief is seasonal. After a long, cold winter, there comes a day where the evidence of spring arrives. It doesn’t show up all at once—a barely visible shoot here, a little bud there—yet it is change nonetheless. Sometimes it’s an early arrival, and other years it seems a little late, but it always arrives.

So too with grief.

The loss of a loved one will always hurt, but what emotions were initially overwhelming will eventually begin to change. You may shed a few less tears, give a silent smile at a fond memory or finally feel a sense of peace.

Just like spring, you won’t feel “normal” all at once, but small evidence will give you hope that life can—and will—go on. As you watch the world transition into springtime, recognize that your inward grief may follow suit.

Having trouble seeing the change or feeling stuck in your perpetual winter? Maybe it’s time to step outside of your own world and talk to a friend, family member or even a neighbor who has gone down the same road you are on. Perhaps connect with a member of your church family who understands the journey of grief. Just remember: you are not alone.

As always, don’t forget that you can contact a Tabitha Bereavement Coordinator as well.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound in hope.” — Romans 15:13

Grief Book and Podcast Suggestions

Sometimes finding the right book, website or podcast can help you process thoughts, feelings and provide helpful insight or information. Check out suggestions by types of loss.

Tips for Caregivers

Assisting someone under hospice care can be difficult. Tabitha offers a variety of helpful articles from managing anticipatory grief, taking care of yourself, visiting with children, reminiscing, communication, spiritual health and talking to someone on hospice.
Tips for Caregivers: Anticipating Holidays
Anticipatory Grief & the Holidays

Anticipatory grief is a hard journey, and holidays make it even harder. Here are some tips to help cope with anticipatory grief.

Tips for Caregivers: Take Care of Yourself to Better Care for Others
Take Care of Yourself to Better Care for Others

Caretaking, in any instance, but especially during hospice care can be difficult. Try these tips to avoid caregiver burnout and support your mental health.

Tips for Caregivers: Children Visiting a Loved One
Children Visiting a Loved One

The best thing to do for children before visiting a loved one in a hospital or senior living community is to prepare them for the visit.

Tips for Caregivers: Reminisce Now
Reminisce Now

Sharing past recollections is valuable for your loved one as they near the end of their life. Use these helpful tips to talk to a loved one about their memories and experiences.

Using Social Media to Communicate
Using Social Media to Communicate

Using social media to communicate about sensitive subjects, like serious illness or impending death, requires thought and consideration.

Tips for Caregivers: Maintain Your Spiritual Health
Maintain Your Spiritual Health

When dealing with a serious illness and death, spiritual issues often arise. Here are some tips to keeping the faith when grieving.

Tips for Caregivers: Talking to a Loved One Under Hospice Care
Talking to a Loved One Under Hospice Care

Determining how to approach a loved one about their chronic illness or death in general is challenging, but can be easier when you have the facts.

Tips for Caregivers: Ruminating in Grief
Ruminating in Grief

Grief has many elements. Sometimes we focus on one aspect over and over, also referred to as “looping.” Here are tips to help cope with “the loop.”

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