Letter to the editor

Appreciated Grief Support program

I just read the article in the March 20 Ledger regarding Behner Funeral Home Give Back program. They not only provide that fine service for local agencies; they also host, along with EveryStep Hospice, a Grief Support program.

When my brother Roy passed in August, I had the opportunity to attend the eight-session program, October 2024 through December, with several other participants. We were provided with a 186-page journal plus a 214-page grief "touchstones" book, both by Alan Wolfelt, PhD, who has well over 20 years of experience with guiding others through the grieving and mourning process.

Rachel (co-owner of Behner's) and Allison (from EveryStep) did a fine job of facilitating each meeting, receiving and answering questions, all for no charge. Personally, I found the journal exercises all to be of significant value in helping process the loss of brother Roy—especially, for example, healing steps, recalling highlights of our relationship and composing a letter to the deceased while imagining how they might respond.

There was no requirement to share. Rather, participants could do so if they wished. The program is periodically repeated. If any readers have lost a loved one, I suggest that they contact Behner's and ask to join one of the upcoming programs. They also offer once monthly evening grief support meetings over coffee, for anyone interested.

John Miller,

Fairfield