Grief is universal and a completely individual experience. Some manifestations of grief are common to all who undergo it. Understanding and dealing with these manifestations can be very helpful to people who experience the death of a loved one.
The Bereavement Department at Hospice of St. Mary's is committed to providing compassionate grief support to adults, teens, and families who are grieving the loss of a family member or close friend.
Our services
As an extension of the hospice philosophy, Hospice of St. Mary's offers grief support through our Bereavement Center, which encompasses the entire family as a unit of care. We offer services to families affected by a terminal illness and provide bereavement support after a death for up to 13 months. All services are provided by bereavement coordinators and trained volunteers. The center offers short-term grief support and education to:
- Surviving family members and loved ones of Hospice of St. Mary's patients
- Community members, organizations, and schools
- Individuals in the healthcare profession
What programs does the Bereavement Center offer?
Adults (age 18 and older)
- Short-term individual and/or family grief support
- Up to 13 months of contact with families of Hospice patients
- Referral resources and information for long-term support base on community as available
- Adult support groups: Designed for individuals who have lost a loved one through death. Registration is required, please call for details. All programming is need based, please call to be added to a waitlist.
Adolescents (sixth through twelfth grade)
Teen Support Group: Designed for any adolescent who has lost a loved one through death. Registration is required, please call for details.
Camp Sunrise: Is designed for grades K-12 graders who have experience the death of a loved one in the last two years. This camp offers many forms of creative grief exploration, group support, and tangible comping skills for application.
Grief support groups
Currently all of our groups are being held virtually using Microsoft Teams. This will require phone or computer access. For the Art and Grief groups, it would be best to use a computer with video for any instructional questions. All grief services are free for community members. We ask only that those who are able to make a donation do so.
Art and Grief
This group is designed to offer an interactive art/craft to utilize as a tool for discussion among group members. Each participant will be asked to pick up their Art and Grief Kit which will include all that is needed for the session. Pick up times will be given to participants as they register.
Learn more
Adults 18+
This group is designed for anyone over the age of 18 who has experienced a loss. Losing a friend or family member is never easy and grief can often feel like an invisible injury. We invite you to join us in a safe space to share your grief experience or listen to the experience of other’s.
Learn more
Surviving Spouses
This group is designed for anyone who has lost a significant other, partner, and/or spouse. Losing your person, companion, and teammate can leave a hole in your heart and support system. Please join us in sharing your grief experience or listen to the experience of other’s.
Learn more
Loss of a Parent Group 18+
This group is designed for anyone who has lost a parent. Learning to live without your adult can create a shift in how the world feels and how you feel in the world. This unique loss comes at a variety of ages and life experiences. We invite you to share your loss experience and lend an ear to others in our community who have also lost their parent or parental figure.
Learn more
If you have any questions about our support groups please call 301-994-3023 or emailing our Bereavement Coordinator, Dawn Kelly, at dawn.kelly@medstar.net.
If you don't see a group that fits your needs, please don't hesitate to reach out to our bereavement team. Groups are offered on an as-need basis.