Hospice of Kankakee Valley - Bereavement Services

Hospice of Kankakee Valley’s professional bereavement counselors are highly skilled and specially trained to assist those who have suffered a loss as they journey through the grief process.

Hospice families are contacted after the death of their loved one to assess grieving needs, and are offered 13 months of bereavement support. Since individuals who are grieving may experience a wide range of emotions and behaviors, our staff accepts and works with each individual at her/his level of need.

The bereavement programs are open to families of hospice patients as well as other grieving members of our community. A member of our bereavement team is available to speak with you about your loss. The bereavement team is also available to speak to business and community groups about grief and coping with loss, including workplace grief and issues involving child grief.

These groups are open to anyone in the community who has experienced the death of a loved one within the last year. We offer separate groups for adults, children, and teenagers. Check our Events page for times and dates, or call (815) 939-4141 and ask to speak with a Bereavement counselor.

The holidays, a time when most people are celebrating family togetherness, can be an especially difficult time for those coping with the loss of a loved one. This event features tips from Bereavement Counselors as well as personal stories from volunteer presenters who have discovered innovative ways to deal with their own grief and grow from their experiences. See our Events page for upcoming dates and details.

We have had a lovely holiday tree donated for use in our office. We would like to fill it with precious memories. If you would like to be a part of this project, please follow these directions:- Make a special ornament in memory of your loved one. You might want to use natural materials, knit, crochet, purchase an ornament kit and assemble it, make a wood carving, use a small framed picture, etc. Be creative.- Attach your loved one’s name to the ornament, or let us help you with labeling it.- Please bring it to the Hospice of Kankakee Valley office by November.Thank you for your participation. We will contact you with the date for hanging the ornaments.Any questions? Call Kathaleen, Steve, or Melba at Hospice of Kankakee Valley.

Our Tuesday afternoon and evening sessions (for adults) from November 1^st through December 20^th will focus on dealing with grief during a time of celebration. See our Events page for times or additional dates, or call (815) 936-3370 for more information.

The Remembering Quilt

The families of Hospice of Kankakee Valley patients and other members of the community may design and create a square to add to one of our Remembering Quilts. The Quilts serve to honor members of our community who have died. Squares can be simple or elaborate, and often include photos and mementos of loved ones, as well as written messages from friends and family. New Quilts are assembled as we collect enough squares to create another one. Contact a Bereavement Services professional at Hospice of Kankakee Valley, (815) 936-3370, for more information about size specifications, etc.

The community is welcome to join us at our yearly memorial service, which is open to the public as well as to HKV family members. The service is usually held in the spring of each year. Check our “Events” page for upcoming activities.

HKV is in the process of constructing a Bereavement Garden behind our office in Bourbonnais. This garden will honor the memory of those HKV has served as well as other community members. Anyone can refer to the giving page to purchase a brick in honor of their loved one.