Love not Grief

Grief Relief Schedule

Gillies Funeral Chapel  sponsors a Grief and Loss Support Group "Grief Relief." This group currently meets at the beautiful Davis and Bott Building which is located at: 50 West Forest Street in Brigham City, Utah. Please enter the building through the north doors and proceed to the conference room which is downstairs.  (Elevator available)

The "Grief Relief" support group will continue to be facilitated by Sue Hodges MSW, CSW who organized the group 4 years ago along with Brent Gillies, owner of Gillies Funeral Chapel. Sue has a master's degree in social work and is currently practicing as a Certified Social Worker. She is the Bereavement/Outreach Coordinator for Gillies Funeral Chapel. Sue has worked as a local Hospice Social Worker with children, teens and adults who are grieving for over 14 years. She has also had a personal experience related to experiencing loss and grief  in her life, as her husband, Darrell, died of brain cancer 16 years ago leaving her as a young widow to raise 5 children.

The "Grief Relief" support group is an open group which means that teens or adults who have experienced the loss of a loved one In their lives can attend the group at any time. The group will continue to meet on:

Wednesday evenings from 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Please refer to the yearly schedule below for more information.

The "Grief Relief" Support Group 2015 schedule is as follows:

January 7th & 21st                 

February 4th & 18th             

March 4th & 18th  
April 8th & 22nd                                        

May 6th & 20th                                           

June 10th & 24th  
July 8th & 22nd                                     

August 12th & 26th

September 9th & 23rd

October 7th & 21st
November 4th & 18th
Thursday, December 3rd (Potluck)

For Questions or concerns related to participating in the "Grief Relief" support group please contact: Sue Hodges MSW, CSW at (801) 603-4792 or

Gillies Funeral Chapel at (435) 723-5236.  

Grief is an important part of our family history, so it is a significant part of who we are and who we are becoming.  Our family history - or story - is a combination of many events, some happy and some sad.

The journey of grief

A journal helps you to keep track of the changes that are taking  place in your life.  make notes of the things you would like to do and check up on how many of them you are doing or making serious plans to do.

• Grief often robs you of you motivation or drive.
• Many bereaved people experience a loss of self-confidence.
• The ability to be hopeful is often hindered by the loss of identity of the closest survivor or survivors
• Hope is often diminished following a series of crises in life.

So, then how do we regain our hope?

• Be patient
• Look for any sign of a return to life
• Don't resist any signs that life may be returning for you.
• Find someone who is objective with whom you can speak openly.
• Dwell on the positive
• Keep a journal of these days
• Participate in a bereavement support group.
• Recognize your successes
• Be a source of Hope for others.

You're Not Alone There is Grief Relief

Mending hearts, Providing comfort, Bringing peace.

We are pleased to announce our next grief series. If you have lost a loved one you should attend our grief group. It is amazing what help it is to find others you are also grieving.

We will meet at Gilliespie Hall, 122 E 300 S Brigham City at 6:00pm-7:30pm on the following dates: June 15, June 29, July 6, July 20, August 3, August 17, August 31.

Feel free to invite others that you know that are grieving. We welcome everyone to attend.

"You're Not Alone"

Come join us for a grief group. We will be holding them on Thursday evenings from 6:00pm-8:00pm at the community center. If you have questions drop us a line or call the office 435-723-5236. September 23, September 30, October 7, October 21, October 28, November 4, November 18. Hope to see you there.

Summer

Love is to the heart what the summer is to the farmer's year - it brings to harvest all the loveliest flowers of the soul.
~Author Unknown

Happy Fathers Day

Wishing you all a happy Fathers Day.

If you are so lucky to still have your father here with you call him and let him know you are proud he is your dad. If your father is not here with you physically take time today to think of the great memories you have of him. If you would like to share them we would love for you to leave a "comment" here.

When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years. ~Mark Twain, "Old Times on the Mississippi" Atlantic Monthly, 1874

A father is always making his baby into a little woman. And when she is a woman he turns her back again. ~Enid Bagnold

Happy Flag Day

The flag of the United States has not been created by rhetorical sentences in declarations of independence and in bills of rights. It has been created by the experience of a great people, and nothing is written upon it that has not been written by their life. It is the embodiment, not of a sentiment, but of a history.
~Woodrow Wilson

Here are some ideas that you may be able to use to cope with the pain you are feeling.

• grieve in your own way and in your own time.
• hear the advice of others, but choose what you need or what feels right for you.
• take care of yourselves.
• rest, relax and exercise.
• have time alone.
• spend time with someone you trust.
• understand what has happened and make sense of the changes that are happening in your life.
• be with someone who:
  has patience
  is willing to listen
  respects feelings
  is not upset by tears
  will keep the persons story private.
• Make as few changes as possible until you feel you are ready.

What is GRIEF

Grief is a natural response to loss. It is what we feel emotionally when something or someone we love is taken away. Most people associate it with death– and this type of loss does often cause the most intense grief. But any loss can cause grief, including:



A relationship breakup
Loss of health
Losing a job
Loss of financial stability
A miscarriage
Death of a pet
Loss of a cherished dream
A loved one’s serious illness
Loss of a friendship
Loss of safety after a trauma
Moving to a new home




Some times the most simple loss can cause someone to grieve. You may feel grief after you loose your job, sell your home, graduate from school or experience a large life change.



Everyone grieves differently. The way you deal with grief is very personal. How you grieve depends on many factors, including your personality and coping style, your life experience, your faith, and the nature of the loss. The grieving process takes time. Healing happens gradually; it can’t be forced or hurried – and there is no “normal” timetable for grieving. Some people start to feel better in weeks or months. For others, the grieving process is measured in years. Whatever your grief experience, it’s important to be patient with yourself and allow the process to naturally unfold.

We are blogging

We have started a blog so that we can post information about things we as a funeral home feel are important. We will also share things we are doing and community things that we are involved in. If you feel there is other information that we can share with you please feel free to make a comment and we will do our best to help you.

Gillies Funeral Chapel Staff
"Family Serving Families"