Bereavement Services

The Iroquois Memorial Hospice Bereavement Program is implemented by a Bereavement Coordinator educated and trained in accompanying patients and families through the grief journey. The program is open to not only hospice families and friends, but to all members of our community and service area.

Bereavement assessment is started on the day of admission to the program, offering support to the patient and families during the disease process. The Bereavement Staff is available to be present during the death to lend support to the family, and assist with overwhelming tasks. Families are then offered 13 months of bereavement support following the death. Our Bereavement Coordinator is available for individual grief sessions, family sessions, or group sessions. Also available is the monthly bereavement newsletter.

Support Groups

Support Groups are scheduled throughout the year and are held at the Iroquois Regional Health Center. For dates and times, please see the News & Events page of our website or contact us at 815.432.0185.

Coping With The Holidays

Coping with the Holidays Program is held every November in an effort to offer information on how to cope with those dreaded special days. Speakers or panel discussions highlight ideas to help with these very difficult holidays. Please see the News & Events page for dates and details or contact us at 815.432.0185.

Quilt of Hope

Each family is given the opportunity to complete a square in memory of their loved one for our hospice Quilt of Hope. Our initial quilt traveled to each community and was displayed in that community's floral shop. It was later displayed in the Illinois State Capital during Hospice Month in 2004.

At present, we have two completed quilts and one in progress, and are displayed at the Iroquois Regional Health Center.

Annual Remembrance Service

The Iroquois Memorial Hospital, Iroquois Memorial Hospice, and the Iroquois Resident Home Memorial/Remembrance Service is held annually to remember and memorialize our loved ones. The service is held each Spring. Candles are lit for each name read and roses are distributed to each person in attendance. Following the ceremony, a butterfly release is held, weather permitting.

The service has always been a favorite of our participants as it gives them hope for the future. Please see the News & Events page for dates and details or contact us at 815.432.0185.