SUPPORT GROUPS

Foreword and fore-warned!

Grief support groups frequently change schedules.

Listings for Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin are provided as a guide and starting point.

It is always best to make contact ahead to confirm information.

Good people are often available who want to help.

Sometimes you have to make a few calls before finding the best fit for your needs.


HOSPITALS

Agnesian HealthCare

St. Agnes Hospital
430 East Division Street
Fond du Lac WI 54935
920 929 2300
Contact Lillian Foote RNC BSN, 920 926 4843 on Mondays, a volunteer from Holy Family Parish in Fond du Lac. She offers two six-week sessions in the spring and fall. Please leave a message (her work hours are 8:30 am.- 4 pm.) with your needs and she will direct you to the appropriate person.
Contact St. Agnes Hospital, 920 926 4843, for the RTS Bereavement Program, meeting at 7 pm. on the 3rd Monday of the month.

All Saints Healthcare System

All Saints Medical Center
St. Mary's Campus
3801 Spring Street
Racine WI 53405
Hospitals Web site: www.allsaintshealth.com
Contact Spiritual Care Services at 262 687 4593

Aurora Health Care

Hospitals web site: www.aurorahealthcare.org Hartford Memorial Hospital
1032 East Sumner
Hartford WI 53027
414 673 2300St. Luke's Medical Center
2900 West Oklahoma Avenue
Milwaukee WI 53215
Contact Barbara Peterson, 414 328 6280.
Four regular support groups:
~ Recently Widowed
~ Men & Grief, call 414 649 7526
~ Loss of a Loved One for Children (6-12 years old)
~ Survivors Helping Survivors (suicide support group) Contact Marcia Williams, 414 649 6930. St. Luke's South Shore
5900 South Lake Drive
Cudahy WI 53110
414 489 9000
Contact 414 481 0520 for current information about Grief Support Group; it may not meet regularly.
A group has been meeting regularly at St. Mary Parish, 1304 Manitoba Avenue, South Milwaukee WI 53172 at 7 pm. on the 1st Thursday of the month.
Contact Paula McKean, 414 762 6810.Sinai Medical Center
Milwaukee Heart Institute
First Floor 960 North 12th Street
Milwaukee WI 53201
Contact 888 863 5502 for information and registration.
A support group meets regularly from 6:30-8:30pm on Wednesdays.

Children's Health System

Children's Hospital of Wisconsin
9000 West Wisconsin Avenue
Mail Station 745
PO Box 1997
Milwaukee WI 53201
Hospital web site: www.chw.org
Contact Larry Uglow, 414 266 2745.
Milwaukee grief support group meets monthly in the Office Building.
Contact Kathleen Hansen, Bereavement Counselor, 414 266 3325. Infant Death Center of Wisconsin
The Center provides free counseling, support and information to families who have experienced the unexpected death of an infant due to SIDA, infections, accidents and congenital defects. Grief and loss, SIDS, children and grief, as well as other related issues are dealt with. A lending library is also available.
Contact Anne Harvieux, Program Administrator, 414 266 2800.Columbia St. Mary's Hospitals / Milwaukee & Ozaukee Columbia Hospital
2025 East Newport Avenue
Milwaukee WI 53211
414 961 3350
St. Mary's Hospital
2323 North Lake Drive
Milwaukee WI 53211
414 291 1240
Hospitals web site: www.columbia-stmarys.com
Contact Katherine Lange, 414 291 1240 for registration, information and exact dates.
Contact Mary Jo Simms, 414 961 4050, for general grief issues; she does independent counseling.
The Grief Support Group, meeting at St. Mary's Hospital of Milwaukee, Hill Facility, 1st floor, Room 138, 2350 North Lake Drive, is a gathering of people who have recently experienced the death of a loved one. Some topics that will be discussed include the emotional stages of grief, self-care, and coping with special days and holidays. This group meets on Wednesdays from 7-8:30 pm. for six weeks. There are four six-week sessions throughout the year. Participants are welcome to attend one or all of the sessions. Columbia / St. Mary's Ozaukee Hospital
13111 North Port Washington Road
Mequon WI 53097
Hospital web site: www.columbia-stmarys.com
Contact Judy Droppers, Comprehensive Care, 262 243 7548.
The group meets from 6:30 - 8 pm. on the 2nd Tuesday of the month in the St. Mary’s Hospital Ozaukee Board Room. No registration is required, but feel free to call ahead.

Synergy Health

St. Joseph's Community Hospital
Bereavement Support Group
551 South Silverbrook Drive
West Bend WI 53095
Grief support group meets from 7-9 pm. on the first Thursday of the month.
Contact the Coordinator, 262 334 8361.Waukesha Memorial Hospital
Contact Nancy, 262 928 2300, for information the Grief Support Group meeting in four eight-week sessions conducted by Stillwaters Cancer Support Services. Click here contact Stillwaters directly.

Wheaton Franciscan Health Care

Hospitals web site: www.covhealth.org Bereavement Support Groups
Contact information for each hospital is listed below. Registration is required. Elmbrook Memorial
19333 West North Avenue
Brookfield WI 53045
Contact Chaplain Barb Malueg, 262 785 2192. Franciscan Woods
19525 West North Avenue
Brookfield WI 53045
Contact Chaplain Marge Hildebrand, 262 780 3830. Marian Franciscan Center
9632 West Appleton Avenue
Milwaukee WI 53225 414 535 6770 St. Francis Hospital
3237 South 16th Street
Milwaukee WI 53215
Contact Josie Wisialowski, 414 647 5416. Spring, Fall and Winters sessions, as requested. St. Joseph Regional Medical Center
5000 West Chambers Street
Milwaukee WI 53226
Contact Chaplain Rev. Anna Lee Hisey-Pierson, 414 447 2040.

PARENT SUPPORT GROUPS

[listed alphabetically by organization name] The Compassionate Friends
This group is a mutual assistance, self-help organization offering friendship and understanding to bereaved parents and siblings. The primary purpose is to assist them in the positive resolution of the grief experienced upon the death of a child. For nearly two decades, The Compassionate Friends chapters in the Milwaukee area have helped thousands of bereaved parents in their efforts to achieve physical and emotional health. There are local four chapters of The Compassionate Friends —
~ Milwaukee County Chapter / Oak Creek
Contact leaders: Rosemary Albrecht, 414 764 5668, or Connie Kriefall, 414 764 9371.
Chapter meetings are at 115 East Fitzsimmons Road, Oak Creek WI 53154. Support meetings are held at 6:30 pm. on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at the Oak Creek Community Center, 8580 South Howell Avenue in Oak Creek. ~ Ozaukee County Chapter
Contact Carol, 262 377 5521, Fran or Roger Bentz, 262 377 0782 or Sandy Tesch, 262 376 7781. Meetings are at 7 pm. on the 3rd Thursday of the month at St. Mary’s Health Center, 6515 Pioneer Road, Cedarburg. ~ Racine County Chapter
Racine Parents Caring & Sharing
Contact Diane Beck, 262 886 0828 or Peg Rousar-Thompson, 262 554 0424.~ Waukesha County Chapter
Contact co-leaders: Karen Staker, W295 S7760 High Cross Drive, Mukwonago WI 53149, 262 363 3091 or Jan Gehr, 1105 Ellis, Waukesha WI 53186, 262 547 2997.
Meetings are at 7:30 pm. on the 4th Monday of the month at the Salem United Methodist Church, 541 Highway 59, Waukesha. National Office of The Compassionate Friends
P.O. Box 3696
Oak Brook IL 60522-3696
E-mail: nationaloffice@compassionatefriends.org
Web site: www.compassionatefriends.org
Contact Regional Coordinator Jim Staniforth, 608 835 7493 or toll free 877 969 0010.RTS Bereavement Program
(formerly known as Resolve Through Sharing)
The group offers support after miscarrying, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth or newborn deaths through various hospitals in southeastern Wisconsin. Contact the individual hospital nearest you.
~ All Saints / St. Luke Hospitals, Racine, 262 687 2154
~ Aurora Health Center, Slinger, 262 670 7253
~ Children’s Hospital, Milwaukee, 414 266 2743
~ Kenosha Hospital, Kenosha, 262 656 2743
~ Memorial Hospital, Oconomowoc, 262 569 9400
~ St. Agnes Hospital, Fond du Lac, 920 926 4843
~ St. Joseph Hospital, Milwaukee, 414 447 2569
~ St. Mary Hospital, Milwaukee, 414 291 1000, ext 3482
~ Watertown Memorial Hospital, Watertown, 920 261 4210
~ Waukesha Memorial Hospital, Waukesha, 262 544 2595 or 262 544 2974
~ West Allis Memorial Hospital, West Allis, 414 329 5908

VARIOUS SERVICES GROUPS AND PROVIDERS

Brookfield TLC (Tender Loving Care)
Contact Kristi Berry, 262 797 9271.
Support after loss of a child to miscarriage, stillbirth, newborn death, death in infancy or early childhood. Meetings are held from 7-9:30 pm. on the 3rd Monday of the month at Elmbrook Church, 777 South Barker Road, Brookfield WI 53045 (Christian-based and non-denominational).

Kenosha

Margaret Ann’s Place
A Center for Grieving Children, Teens and Families
7527 - 10th Avenue
Kenosha WI 53143
262 656 9656Suicide Grief Support Group
Contact Barb Miller, 262 694 5744, for information, although it is not necessary to pre-register. The group meets at 7 pm. on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at the First Christian Church, located one-half mile west of I-94 on Hwy C in Kenosha.Milwaukee
My Good Mourning Place
4005 West Oklahoma Avenue
Milwaukee WI 53219
Contact Sr. Connie Taylor, 414 643 5678.
A bereavement center, housed at the former convent near Blessed Sacrament Church campus, established to reach out to children from ages 3 to 19 and their families who have been touched by death, providing a caring place for them to cry and helping them gain the necessary tools to deal with loss. Survivors Helping Survivors
Church of Good Hope
8700 West Good Hope Road
Milwaukee WI 53224
414 353 5555
This suicide support group meets from 7-9 pm. on the first Thursday of the month.
Contact the Mental Health Association, 414 276 3122.

Milwaukee County

First Call for Help
Counseling
414 547 3388Mental Health Association of Milwaukee County
Yes Life Group
414 276 3122

Newburg

Fr. Guy Gurath
Holy Trinity Parish
P. O. Box 16
Newburg WI 53060
262 675 6256
Fr. Gurath has been involved in Grief Ministry since 1988 while also serving in various parish ministries in the Archdiocese. His CDs and tapes are available through Seaworthy Publications.
Contact Father for complimentary materials.

Racine

Joyful Again
St. Michael Episcopal Church
132 Morningwood Road
Racine WI 53402
Contact Joan Spinks at 262 681 1008 about this two-day widowed retreat.Grief Share
Racine Assembly of God
1325 Airline Road
Racine WI 53406
262 886 5644Grief Support Group
Emmanuel Lutheran Church
725 High Street
Racine WI 53402
Contact Pastor James Peters at 262 633 4949. He conducts this open support group on Mondays from 2-4 pm.

Waukesha

Hope, Healing & Growth
Stillwaters Center
434 Madison Street
Waukesha WI 53188
Web site: www.stillwaterscenter.org
Contact Dani Sutliff at Stillwaters, 262 548 9148 or inbox@stillwaterscenter.org.
An adult support group for those who have lost a loved one to cancer. These eight-week sessions are scheduled four times through the calendar year. Call to inquire about the start of the next session.

Waukesha County

Loss of A Loved One
No set location.
Contact Kathy Bruning, 262 524 9965 or starlab@execpc.com. She conducts support groups two to three times a year. She sets locations, dates and times.

Wauwatosa

Kyle's Korner
7106 West North Avenue
Wauwatosa WI 53213
E-mail: mary@kyleskorner.org
Web site: www.kyleskorner.org
Contact Mary Montiero, 414 777 1583 or by above email.
A center for children, teens and their families who have experienced the death of a loved one. The efforts of trained volunteers and qualified professionals are combined to provide group interventions, at no charge, for bereaved young people and their adult caregivers. Six different groups meet from 6-7:30 pm. every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday on alternate weeks, but call ahead to verify. Two evening groups center on specific needs: Death by Suicide and Teen Grief; there is one daytime group (Wednesdays from 12 Noon-1:30 pm.) for a specific need: Young Widows & Widowers. PARISHES
Brookfield St. Dominic
18255 West Capitol Drive
Brookfield WI 53045-1422
Parish e-mail: parish@stdominic.net
Contact Susan Petersen, 262 781 3480 or susan.petersen@stdominic.net.
Twice a year the Hope Series is offered, consisting of four morning sessions in October and four evening sessions in May. There are occasional one-day programs available. Susan is also available for one-on-one bereavement support and referrals. St. Dominic works with St. John Vianney in Brookfield, St. Mary in Elm Grove and St. Joseph in Wauwatosa. St. John Vianney
1755 North Calhoun Road
Brookfield WI 53005
Parish e-mail: sjv@stjohnv.org
Contact Mary Kaminski, 262 796 3944 or maryk@stjohnv.org.
Twice a year the Hope Series is offered, consisting of four morning sessions in October and four evening sessions in May. There are occasional one-day programs available. St. John Vianney works with St. Dominic in Brookfield, St. Mary in Elm Grove and St. Joseph in Wauwatosa. Fond du Lac Holy Family
26 West Follett Street
Fond du Lac WI 54935
Contact Rosalie Hartmann, 920 921 0580 or rhartma2@hffdl.org.Genesee Depot St. Paul
PO Box 95
Genesee Depot WI 53127
Parish e-mail: saintpaul@archmil.org
Contact Kathy Labinski, 262 968 3865, who occasionally facilitates a group. Greendale St. Alphonsus
5960 West Loomis Road
Greendale WI 53129
414 421 2442
Parish e-mail: stals@st-alphonsus.org
Contact Kathy Knutel, Team Leader, 414 421 3796, or Sr. Eileen Kazmierowicz, Director of Adult and Family Ministry, 414 421 0690 or eileen@st-alphonsus.org.
Group meets from 10-11:30 am. on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month. Carrie Dzibinski and Nancy Snyder facilitate the support group.Hales Corners St. Mary
9520 West Forest Home Avenue
Hales Corners WI 53130
Parish e-mail: stmaryhc@aol.com
Contact Mary Matestic, 414 425 2174, who also facilitates a Holiday Support Group for a six-week session.Hubertus St. Gabriel
3727 Hubertus Road
Hubertus WI 53033-9794
Contact Maureen Mitchell, 262 628 2840/work or 262 673 2986/home or mmitchell@sgabriel.org or Sandy Hennes RN, 262 628 1227. Kenosha St. Mary and St. Mark Parishes
Contact Karen Metallo, St. Mark’s Pastoral Associate, 262 656 7373 or stmark-kenosha@acronet.net.
Support group meets at St. Mary’s Parish, 7307 – 40th Avenue, from 9 - 10:30 am. on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month. Menomonee Falls Good Shepherd
N88 W17658 Christman Road
Menomonee Falls WI 53051
262 255 2210
Parish e-mail: goodshepherd@gdinet.com
Contact Lois Pearson, 262 251 1001.
Adults and children meet at 7 pm. on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month. The adult group meets in the Chapel just inside the south entrance. The children's group meets in Room 216 at the same time with Lois Pearson of Care Connection, 262 251 1001. The support groups are sponsored by Community Memorial Hospital in Menomonee Falls. Mequon St. James
W28 N11300 St. James Lane
Mequon WI 53092
Parish e-mail: stjmail@stscj.org
Contact Jim or Carol Ott, 262 241 9411.
This group meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month from 7-8:30 pm. in the lower level of the Parish Center in the St. John Room. Carol Hawke, 262 242 9434, has a follow-up ministry at the parish. Milwaukee Blessed Sacrament
3100 South 41st Street
Milwaukee WI 53219
A group for widows and widowers meets on the 2nd Saturday of the month.
Contact Sr. Connie Taylor, 414 643 5678.
Riverbank Catholic Connection
Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Old St. Mary's, Our Lady of Divine Providence, Ss. Peter & Paul and Three Holy Women Parishes
Contact Monica Meagher, 414 962 2443, ext 12 or meagherm@archmil.org. St. Gregory the Great
3160 South 63rd Street
Milwaukee WI 53219
Parish e-mail: coelian@asapnet.net
Contact Sr. Jomarie Zielke CSA, Parish Nurse, 414 543 8292.
Group meets from 12 noon-2 pm. on the 4th Tuesday of the month. St. Margaret Mary
3930 North 92nd Street
Milwaukee WI 53222-2588
Contact Pat Unti, Parish Nurse, 414 831 0491 or Sr. Rosie Bonk SSND, Pastoral Minister for Adults, 414 461 6073 or rtbonk@stmmp.org.St. Sebastian
5400 West Washington Boulevard
Milwaukee WI 53208
414 453 1061
Parish e-mail: saintsebs@saintsebs.org
Young widowed and their children meet at 6:30 pm. on the 4th Monday of the month. Children meet separately and counselors are available. St. Veronica
353 East Norwich Street
Milwaukee WI 53207
414 482 2920
Parish e-mail: stvern@execpc.com
No group at this time.Muskego St. Leonard
W173 S7743 Westwood Drive
Muskego WI 53150-9160
Contact Carlene Larson, 262 679 1773 or larsonc@archmil.org.
No group currently meeting, but Carlene will speak with anyone personally who is grieving. New Berlin Holy Apostles
16000 West National Avenue
New Berlin WI 53151-5599
Contact Jane Hoida, 414 905 1473, for information, although no formal group is currently meeting. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
12700 West Howard Avenue
New Berlin WI 53151
Contact Liz Hanna, 262 782 6760 or seaseton@execpc.com.RacineSt. Richard
1509 Grand Avenue
Racine WI 53403
Contact Pam at 262 637 8374 for information and to register. There is a session in the spring and the fall, each for six weeks. Sheboygan Falls Blessed Trinity
327 Giddings Avenue
Sheboygan Falls WI 53085
Contact Sr. Marcia Vogl, 920 467 4616 or staff@blessedtrinityparish.com. Waukesha St. Joseph
824 North East Avenue
Waukesha WI 53186
Contact Sr. Julie Weckwerth, 262 542 2589 or weckwerthj@archmil.org.St. William
440 North Moreland Boulevard
Waukesha WI 53188
Contact Joe Nettesheim, 262 547 2763, ext 213 or swadult@execpc.com for more information. There is a series several times a year. West Allis Mary, Queen of Heaven
2322 South 106th Street
West Allis WI 53227-2001
Parish e-mail: mqh@execpc.com
Contact Ann Spoerl, 414 328 5568.
Group meets at 11 am. on the 2nd Saturday of the month. West Bend

St. Frances Cabrini
1025 South 7th Avenue
West Bend WI 53095
Contact Carol Burczyk, Pastoral Associate, 262 338 2366 ext. 20 or carol@stfcabrini.com.
Support group meets at 7 pm. on the 1st Thursday of the month in the Education Center at 615 Hawthorn Drive.