Local organizations help families deal with loss

November is Hospice Awareness Month and I am grateful for a couple of local organizations that help families like mine deal with heartbreaking loss. The mother of my two children died in 2006. As my children have struggled to deal with this huge loss, I've tried to give them as much love and support as possible. I've also turned to bereavement experts.

In September, I sent my children to Camp Embracing Memories, a free, overnight grief camp for children ages 7 to 16. Each year, the camp is presented and organized by St. Luke's Hospice. Cedar Memorial was the corporate sponsor this year.

What a wonderful contribution this camp is to our community. My children, ages 11 and 12, were greeted by caring counselors and other children who had lost a loved one. They quickly bonded with one another and shared their feelings. Guest speakers reassured them and shared stories.

At the end, all the children exchanged phone numbers and e-mail addresses, and even befriended each other on Facebook. My children can't wait to go back next year to see their new friends!

Dennis Hasenbank

Hiawatha