Bereavement

Bereavement refers to a period of mourning before, during and after a loss, and grief in reaction to the loss. Bereavement care is an important part of the hospice experience and includes anticipating grief reactions and providing ongoing support for the bereaved over a period of 13 months. UR Medicine Home Care offers our Bereavement program to the community at no charge.

How Bereavement Support Helps

Losing a loved one isn’t easy to prepare for or accept. Grieving is a healthy and normal response to loss. We provide support through the bereavement process and can help individuals and families heal. We’re available to provide you or your family with as much or as little assistance before or after a loved one has died, at no cost. Our Bereavement Program is an extension of our hospice care and helps address feelings of loss, grief or sorrow through:

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• Individual or group support
• Community referrals to trained bereavement professionals as needed
• Special programs and services, such as education or training
• Quarterly letters
• The annual Memorial Butterfly Release
• The Evening of Remembrance held annually to honor loved ones
• Trained bereavement volunteers that offer massage, Reiki, energy work, spiritual care and who provide regular supportive phone calls

Local Support Groups 

Monroe County:

• URochester Medicine Home Care, 2180 Empire Blvd. Webster, NY 14580: This group provides support to anyone who has experienced a death of a loved one.
  • Tuesdays at 11 a.m. – Facilitated by Michele Allman, LMSW
  • Thursdays at 11 a.m. – Facilitated by Andrew Schep
• URochester Alumni Center, 300 East River Road, Rochester, NY 14267: This group provides support to any young widow/widower who has experienced the death of a spouse/signification other.
  • 1st and 3rd Friday of the month at 12 p.m. – Facilitated by Erin Kane
• Union Presbyterian Church, 1 Browns Ave, Scottsville, NY 14546: This group provides support to anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one.
  • Mondays at 3 p.m. – Facilitated by Allen Roach
• St. Thomas More Church, 2617 East Ave, Rochester, NY 14610: This group provides support to parents who have experienced the death of an adult child in the past year.
  • 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 2 p.m. – Facilitated by Michele Allman, LMSW

Zoom Meetings:

• Group Meeting: This group provides support to anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one.
  • Mondays 6:30 p.m. – Facilitated by Deborah King
    • This group will be ending December 2026.
• New Caregiver Group: This provides support to those who are caring for a loved one who is currently in hospice. Please call for the Zoom link.
  • Wednesdays 6-7 p.m. – Facilitated by Melissa Gradwick, BSW. 

Please call Michele Allman (Monroe County), LMSW at (585) 274-4069 for any questions or to make reservations. One to one supportive counseling is also available.

Ontario and Yates Counties

• Wood Library, 134 North Main Street, Canandaigua. Please meet in the Ewing Family Community Room on the 3rd floor. 
  • 1st Thursday of the month; in person – 12-1 p.m. – Facilitated by Jan DiDuro.
• The Presbyterian Church, 24 Park Place, Geneva. Please enter through parking lot off Washington Street and meet in the North Parlor. 
  • 3rd Tuesday of the month; in person – 1-2:30 p.m. – Facilitated by Jan DiDuro.
• Penn Yan Public Library, 214 Main St., Penn Yan.Please meet upstairs in the community room. Facilitated by Jan DiDuro and Linda Fox. 
  • 4th Tuesday of the month; in person – 3:30-5 p.m. – Facilitated by Jan DiDuro & Linda Fox.
    • NOTE: Meeting rescheduled to November 20 and December 18 due to holidays

URochester Medicine Hospice (Ontario and Yates Counties) – Jan DiDuro at (585) 736-7857, or email at Janice_DiDuro@URMC.Rochester.edu for any questions or to make reservations.

Specialized Support for Children

The agency offers Camp Heartstrings/Camp Dreams. A three day bereavement camp for children entering grades 2-11 in June 2026.

Registration will open February 1. For information, please visit urmhomecare.org or call Michele Allman, LMSW (585) 274-4069.

Insurance Coverage

The hospice benefit provides bereavement care to families and loved ones in the year following a patient’s death. Additionally, bereavement services to the community, including counseling and support, are provided at no cost.