  At the Toland-Herzig Funeral Homes, we understand grief. It may not feel as
such, but grief is the normal, natural and necessary process of adjustment
and emotional upheaval we experience when someone we love has died. This
experience is as unique to each person and each loss as a fingerprint. For
this reason, our Bereavement Support Services have been designed so that the
bereaved person can tailor the amount and type of support desired.Families who choose Toland-Herzig to provide services for a loved one may receive continuing care through phone or face-to-face contacts and correspondence throughout their time of grief, if they so choose. Any bereaved person may receive support via email or telephone consultation, or through the borrowing of resources from our Bereavement Services Library. Support is also available by participating in our acclaimed remembrance programs, such as our (purple) Ribbon of Remembrance campaign at Memorial Day, our Valentine's Day blood donation program- A Gift From the Heart, and our Walk to Remember. Our Walk to Remember is held annually in conjunction with National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month (October), but is dedicated to any child who has died, no matter what the age or cause of death. By providing us with an e-mail address, the bereaved family can receive occasional words of inspiration and comfort from our Bereavement Services. On-site individual and family grief consultations are available, by appointment, at one of our funeral homes or the Toland-Herzig Monarch Center. If needed, home visits may also be arranged. Our ten-week Chrysalis education and support group is another avenue for bereaved people to share, mature in their grief and learn in a safe environment, while supporting and helping each other through the grief experience. Each week a different grief related topic is addressed in depth. However, if the bereaved person desires a less formal, social type of group, we offer our Monarch support group. The Monarch Group includes those who have completed the Chrysalis Group and wish to maintain newfound friendships as they venture into new activities, yet, still receive comfort and support. Group members enjoy bi-weekly luncheon meetings and, approximately one time per month, a special event (game or movie nights, special outings, etc.). Any bereaved person who prefers a less structured, more social support environment is welcome to participate and will discover a special group of people who support one another while sharing positive experiences, as well as the common bond of grief. Occasionally, bereaved people express the desire to help themselves through grief by reaching out to help others. For those who express this need, we will assist in locating opportunities to Spread Your Wings. We are a resource for helping the bereaved obtain a fulfilling and worthwhile volunteer experience that can aid in the journey toward healing. Our Monarch Mentors program attempts to pair people who have similar losses, ages or grief experiences, so the bereaved person has a "mentor" who befriends and supports him or her via a shared experience. Each Monarch Mentor will have completed the ten-week Chrysalis Support Group and will receive additional guidance from the Director of Bereavement Services. Additionally, we offer Information and Referral services. When the bereaved have questions and are unsure where to turn for help, we will help find the needed answers, or refer to someone who can better assist with the problem at hand. Whether the need is a referral for mental health care or to an auto mechanic, we stand ready to help. We impart Grief and Loss Education through the provision of resources, conducting seminars and making presentations using the most current, up-to-date information on grief and loss that is available. All of our Bereavement Support Services are available free of charge and are open to anyone in the community. If it is deemed that the needs of the bereaved person extend beyond the services we provide, we will refer that person for the appropriate level of assistance. Our goal is to help the bereaved as they work through grief in any way we can, for as long as we are needed. The cornerstones of Toland-Herzig Bereavement Services are to Support the bereaved at the onset of grief through education, reassurance and companioning; to continue to comfort by providing remembrance activities, a community of shared experience and opportunities for Socialization; and to encourage the bereaved to restructure their lives by growing through volunteerism, assisting others and themselves through Service in our community. |