Grief Support Meeting Information
Our in person peer grief support meetings meet either in person or via Zoom. You must complete a one-time pre-registration to receive our weekly meeting zoom links. In addition to our regular in person and zoom grief support for a death due to overdose or other substance use related causes for anyone 18+, we now also offer a special men’s only zoom grief group, a grandparents grief group, partner/spouse grief group, a sibling group, a loss of an only child group, a loss of multiple loved ones group, suicide loss, an LGBTQ+ group and people in recovery grieving due to substance use group. All zoom meetings are based on Eastern Time. If it just says ”ZOOM” and no other qualifier, it means anyone 18+ who is bereaved due to substance use related causes are welcome to attend. The in person meetings are also for anyone 18+ who are bereaved due to substance use related causes. Meetings subject to change. Check back for updates. PRE-REGISTER HERE!
May 2024 Meetings & Events (Remaining)
Monday - ZOOM (in place of Worcester in-person meeting) 5/6/24 7:00-8:30 pm ET. Aileen Lovejoy & Deb Dowd-Foley facilitating. For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Monday - PARENTS GRIEVING AN ONLY CHILD - ZOOM 5/6/24 6:30-8:00 pm ET. Christine Santos facilitating. For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of their only child due to substance use.
Wednesday - LOSS OF MULTIPLE LOVED ONES - ZOOM 5/8/24 7:00-8:30 pm ET. Annie Avitabile facilitating. For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of multiple loved ones due to substance use. Now meeting on 2nd Wednesday of Month!
Thursday - ZOOM 5/9/24 5:30-7:00 pm ET. (also known as Northampton Zoom Group). Chloe Brosnan facilitating For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Thursday - IN-PERSON, MATTHEW’S CANDLE, KINGSTON, MA 5/9/24 7:00-8:30pm ET. Mary Peckham facilitating. Plymouth County Outreach Office, 62 Main Street, Suite 107, Kingston, MA For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Sunday SPECIAL MOTHER’S DAY ZOOM 5/12/24 6:00-7:30 pm ET. Christine Santos facilitating. For anyone who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use wanting some extra support on this holiday.
Monday - IN-PERSON, WEYMOUTH MA 5/13/24 6:30-8:00 pm ET. Darlene Mersereau facilitating. Crossroads Church, 241 Broad Street, Weymouth, MA For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Monday - ZOOM 5/13/24 7:00-8:30 pm ET. Gary Carter facilitating. For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Monday - LOSS BY SUICIDE - ZOOM 5/13/24 7:00-8:30 pm ET. Don Lipstein facilitating/Nic Scarmeas co-facilitating. For anyone 18 and over who have experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use. Whether you know for sure that suicide was the cause of death or you are uncertain, you will find support here.
Tuesday - IN-PERSON, NATHAN’S CIRCLE WEST BARNSTABLE, MA 5/14/24 5:30-7:00 pm ET. Kerry and Richard Bickford facilitating. Compass Rose Center 1106 Main St West Barnstable MA For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Tuesday - PARTNER & SPOUSE - ZOOM 5/14/24 7:00-8:30 pm ET. Kar-Kate Parenteau facilitating. For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of a partner, spouse or significant other due to substance use.
Tuesday - MEN’S ONLY - ZOOM 5/14/24 7:00-8:30 pm ET. Dave Swindell and Gary Carter facilitating. For men 18 and over who have experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Wednesday - IN-PERSON, CHARLESTOWN, MA 5/15/24 6:00-7:00 pm ET. Shannon Lundin & Michael Cain facilitating. St. John’s Church 27 Devens St 2nd Floor Charlestown MA For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Wednesday - ZOOM 5/15/24 6:00-7:30 pm ET. Karen Walsh and Rachel Solomon facilitating. For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Wednesday - SIBLING ZOOM 5/15/24 6:00-7:30 pm ET. Miriah Corso facilitating. For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of a sibling due to substance use.
Thursday - LGBTQ+ ZOOM 5/16/24 6:00-7:30 PM ET. Jill Shanahan (she/her) facilitating. For anyone 18 and over and identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Monday - GRIEVING GRANDPARENTS - ZOOM 5/20/24 12:00-1:00 pm ET. Kerry Bickford facilitating. For grandparents that have experienced the death or estrangement of a grandchild due to substance use (theirs or their parents.) The focus of this Monday group will be on the grandparent.
Tuesday - IN-PERSON, MATTHEW’S CANDLE, HANSON, MA 5/21/24 6:30-8:00 pm ET. Mary Peckham facilitating. Calvary Baptist Church, 429 Monponsett Street, Hanson, MA For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Tuesday - IN-PERSON, QUINCY, MA 5/21/24 6:30-8:00 pm ET. Robyn Houston-Bean facilitating. New Way Recovery, 85 Quincy Avenue, Quincy, MA For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Wednesday - PEOPLE IN RECOVERY - ZOOM 5/22/24 6:00-7:30 pm ET. Jill Shanahan facilitating/Leslie Lagos co-facilitating. For anyone 18 and over who identifies as being in recovery from any substance or alcohol who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Monday - IN-PERSON, WEYMOUTH MA 5/27/24 6:30-8:00 pm ET. Darlene Mersereau facilitating. Crossroads Church, 241 Broad Street, Weymouth, MA For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Monday - ZOOM 5/27/24 7:00-8:30 pm ET. For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use. Postponed until June.
Tuesday - IN-PERSON, BRIDGEWATER, MA 5/28/24 6:30-8:00 pm ET. Annie Avitabile now facilitating Trinity Episcopal Church 91 Main St Bridgewater MA For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
NEW OFFERING!! HYBRID MEETING Tuesday - IN-PERSON & ZOOM, GLOUCESTER, MA 5/28/24 7:00-8:00 pm ET. Colleen and Gordon Bullard facilitating CORE Peer Recovery and Resource Center 11 - 15 Parker Street, Gloucester, MA For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Tuesday - MEN’S ONLY - ZOOM 5/28/24 7:00-8:30 pm ET. Dave Swindell and Gary Carter facilitating. For men 18 and over who have experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Tuesday - PARTNER & SPOUSE - ZOOM 5/28/24 7:00-8:30 pm ET. Kar-Kate Parenteau facilitating. For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of a partner, spouse or significant other due to substance use.
Thursday - ZOOM 5/30/24 7:00-8:30 pm ET. Janice Kaplan facilitating. For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
June 2024 Meetings & Events
Monday - ZOOM (in place of Worcester in-person meeting) 6/3/24 7:00-8:30 pm ET. Aileen Lovejoy & Deb Dowd-Foley facilitating. For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Monday - PARENTS GRIEVING AN ONLY CHILD - ZOOM 6/3/24 6:30-8:00 pm ET. Christine Santos facilitating. For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of their only child due to substance use.
Wednesday - IN-PERSON, FALMOUTH MA 6/5/24 1:30-3:00 pm ET. Kerry Bickford facilitating. Learn to Cope Office 24 Spring Bars Road, Suite 1A, Falmouth MA. For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Wednesday - IN-PERSON, PORTLAND, ME 6/5/24 6:00-7:30 pm ET. Karen Walsh and Rachel Solomon facilitating. The Family Restored, 631 Stevens Avenue, Suite 205, Portland, ME For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Wednesday - ZOOM 6/5/24 7:00-8:30 pm ET. Robyn Houston-Bean facilitating. For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Thursday - GRIEVING GRANDPARENTS - ZOOM 6/6/24 5:30-6:30 pm ET. Kerry Bickford facilitating. For grandparents that have experienced the death of a family member due to substance use now navigating grief and other issues with their grandchildren. The focus of this Thursday group will be on the grandchildren.
Monday - IN-PERSON, WEYMOUTH MA 6/10/24 6:30-8:00 pm ET. Darlene Mersereau facilitating. Crossroads Church, 241 Broad Street, Weymouth, MA For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Monday - ZOOM 6/10/24 7:00-8:30 pm ET. Gary Carter facilitating. For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Monday - LOSS BY SUICIDE - ZOOM 6/10/24 7:00-8:30 pm ET. Don Lipstein facilitating/Nic Scarmeas co-facilitating. For anyone 18 and over who have experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use. Whether you know for sure that suicide was the cause of death or you are uncertain, you will find support here.
Tuesday - IN-PERSON, NATHAN’S CIRCLE WEST BARNSTABLE, MA 6/11/24 5:30-7:00 pm ET. Kerry and Richard Bickford facilitating. Compass Rose Center 1106 Main St West Barnstable MA For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Tuesday - PARTNER & SPOUSE - ZOOM 6/11/24 7:00-8:30 pm ET. Kar-Kate Parenteau facilitating. For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of a partner, spouse or significant other due to substance use.
Tuesday - MEN’S ONLY - ZOOM 6/11/24 7:00-8:30 pm ET. Dave Swindell and Gary Carter facilitating. For men 18 and over who have experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Wednesday - IN-PERSON, CHARLESTOWN, MA 6/12/24 6:00-7:00 pm ET. Shannon Lundin & Michael Cain facilitating. St. John’s Church 27 Devens St 2nd Floor Charlestown MA For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Wednesday - ZOOM 6/12/24 6:00-7:30 pm ET. Karen Walsh and Rachel Solomon facilitating. For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Wednesday - LOSS OF MULTIPLE LOVED ONES - ZOOM 6/12/24 7:00-8:30 pm ET. Annie Avitabile facilitating. For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of multiple loved ones due to substance use. Now meeting on 2nd Wednesday of Month!
Thursday - ZOOM 6/13/24 5:30-7:00 pm ET. (also known as Northampton Zoom Group). Chloe Brosnan facilitating For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Thursday - IN-PERSON, MATTHEW’S CANDLE, KINGSTON, MA 6/13/24 7:00-8:30pm ET. Mary Peckham facilitating. Plymouth County Outreach Office, 62 Main Street, Suite 107, Kingston, MA For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Sunday SPECIAL FATHER’S DAY ZOOM 6/16/24 7:00-8:00 pm ET. Dave Swindell facilitating. For anyone who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use wanting some extra support on this holiday.
Monday - GRIEVING GRANDPARENTS - ZOOM 6/17/24 12:00-1:00 pm ET. Kerry Bickford facilitating. For grandparents that have experienced the death or estrangement of a grandchild due to substance use (theirs or their parents.) The focus of this Monday group will be on the grandparent.
Tuesday - IN-PERSON, MATTHEW’S CANDLE, HANSON, MA 6/18/24 6:30-8:00 pm ET. Mary Peckham facilitating. Calvary Baptist Church, 429 Monponsett Street, Hanson, MA For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Tuesday - IN-PERSON, QUINCY, MA 6/18/24 6:30-8:00 pm ET. Robyn Houston-Bean facilitating. New Way Recovery, 85 Quincy Avenue, Quincy, MA For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Wednesday - SIBLING ZOOM 6/19/24 6:00-7:30 pm ET. Miriah Corso facilitating. For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of a sibling due to substance use.
Thursday - LGBTQ+ ZOOM 6/20/24 6:00-7:30 PM ET. Jill Shanahan (she/her) facilitating. For anyone 18 and over and identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Monday - IN-PERSON, WEYMOUTH MA 6/24/24 6:30-8:00 pm ET. Darlene Mersereau facilitating. Crossroads Church, 241 Broad Street, Weymouth, MA For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Monday - ZOOM 6/24/24 7:00-8:30 pm ET. Don Lipstein facilitating. For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Tuesday - IN-PERSON, BRIDGEWATER, MA 6/25/24 6:30-8:00 pm ET. Annie Avitabile now facilitating Trinity Episcopal Church 91 Main St Bridgewater MA For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
NEW OFFERING!! HYBRID MEETING Tuesday - IN-PERSON & ZOOM, GLOUCESTER, MA 6/25/24 7:00-8:00 pm ET. Colleen and Gordon Bullard facilitating CORE Peer Recovery and Resource Center 11 - 15 Parker Street, Gloucester, MA For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Tuesday - MEN’S ONLY - ZOOM 6/25/24 7:00-8:30 pm ET. Dave Swindell and Gary Carter facilitating. For men 18 and over who have experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Tuesday - PARTNER & SPOUSE - ZOOM 6/25/24 7:00-8:30 pm ET. Kar-Kate Parenteau facilitating. For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of a partner, spouse or significant other due to substance use.
Wednesday - PEOPLE IN RECOVERY - ZOOM 6/26/24 6:00-7:30 pm ET. Jill Shanahan facilitating/Leslie Lagos co-facilitating. For anyone 18 and over who identifies as being in recovery from any substance or alcohol who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Thursday - ZOOM 6/27/24 7:00-8:30 pm ET. Janice Kaplan facilitating. For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Basic Zoom preparations:
Don’t know how to zoom, no worries! Follow the directions below.
Go to to the Zoom download page and get:
Zoom desktop software for a desktop or laptop computer
And/or the Zoom tablet/phone app
Equipment
Recommended: Computer or laptop with Zoom desktop software
Tablet or phone with Zoom app
Go to the pregistration page, complete and you will get a emailed a link for the next Zoom meeting.
Our meetings are for people 18 and older looking for peer to peer, in person or virtual group grief support. The group was started for for those in Massachusetts, then expanded to New Hampshire & Rhode Island, and now welcome anyone from any state or country who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use disorder, addiction and/or overdose. We welcome anyone who has experienced this type of loss.
Please pre-register before your first meeting using the grief group pre-registration tab. Meetings are on an open ongoing basis after pre-registration. The meetings are not intended to replace therapy and/or counseling and the facilitators are not licensed doctors or therapists.
If you have any questions, please email robyn@thesunwillrise.org.