Lightways Grief Support Program

Grief doesn’t always begin after someone dies. Sometimes, it begins before.

When someone you love is living with a serious illness, you may find yourself grieving changes that are already happening while also thinking about what the future may hold. This is known as anticipatory grief, and it can bring a mix of emotions that can be difficult to understand.

You might be grieving the life you shared, changes in your relationship, or the future you imagined together. You might also feel sadness, fear, anger, guilt, or even moments of hope. All of these feelings can be part of the experience.

For Grief Awareness Month, we’re taking a closer look at anticipatory grief and what it can mean for patients and the people who love them.

📖 Read our latest Light the Way Blog, “Grieving Before a Loss: Anticipatory Grief,” at www.lightways.org/2026/08/13/grieving-before-a-loss-anticipatory-grief/

Spread the word! For grievers who are looking to understand their grief experience better, and meet others who understand too.

🍂 Fall Grief Workshop Series 🍂

Grief can feel overwhelming, but you do not have to navigate it alone.

Join the Grief Counselors at Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care for our Fall Grief Workshop Series, a free four week program designed for anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one. Each session offers guidance on a different aspect of the grief journey, followed by the opportunity to connect and share with others who understand what you are going through.

📅 Thursdays, October 1, 8, 15, and 22, 2026
🕕 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Choose the format that works best for you:

💙 In Person:Dorothy Brown Resource Center
320 Water Stone Way, Joliet, IL 60431

💻 Online: Join remotely via Zoom.

The workshop is free and open to anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one, whether or not their loved one received hospice care through Lightways. While each session builds on the previous one, you are welcome to attend as many sessions as your schedule allows.

💜 Register today at www.lightways.org/series/fall-grief-workshop-series/

Come out to support a good cause!

💫 LAST CHANCE TO GET YOUR TICKETS! 💫

Tickets for Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care’s Fourth Annual Wonderlight Celebration are on sale now — but only through September 17! 🎟️

Join us for an unforgettable evening of inspiration, connection, and giving back.

📅 Thursday, September 24
🕠 5:30 PM
📍 Firefly Pavilion at the Morton Arboretum, Lisle

This year’s theme, “Caring Through the Senses,” celebrates the meaningful ways compassion, comfort, and connection are experienced through sight, sound, touch, taste, and scent.

As the largest nonprofit hospice program in northern Illinois, Lightways is honored to provide compassionate care to our community. Proceeds from Wonderlight will support our dedicated Integrative Therapies Team, helping provide services such as massage therapy, music therapy, and aromatherapy for hospice patients and their families.

✨ Enjoy an elegant plated dinner, exciting raffle baskets, and an inspiring evening celebrating the healing power of compassionate care.

⏰ Don’t wait — September 17 is the LAST DAY to purchase tickets!

🎟️ Reserve your seat today and join us for Wonderlight!

Interested in sponsoring the event or donating a raffle item? Please contact Nikki Gardner at 815.740.4104 or [email protected].

🔗 Purchase tickets and learn more: www.lightways.org/wonderlight

Save the Date!!

‼️ SAVE THE DATE ‼️

🕯️ Lights of Love Memorial Tribute & Tree Lighting Ceremony

An evening to remember, reflect and celebrate the lives of those we love. Join Lightways at the beautiful Rialto Square Theatre for a special evening of remembrance, reflection and community as we honor loved ones who remain forever in our hearts. 💙

📅 Wednesday, November 25 | 📍 Rialto Square Theatre

✨ More details coming soon! Stay up to date on Lights of Love and all upcoming Lightways events: www.lightways.org/events-calendar/

💙 Coping with Grief After the Loss of a Loved One

Grieving the loss of someone you love can feel overwhelming, confusing, and isolating—but understanding the grieving process can help you navigate the journey ahead.

Join grief counselors from Lightways for a compassionate virtual presentation exploring common reactions to grief and practical ways to care for yourself as you cope with loss. Whether your loss is recent or happened years ago, this program will offer helpful information, encouragement, and strategies to support you along your grief journey.

📅 Thursday, July 30, 2026
💻 FREE Virtual Event
✏️ Register here: https://tinyurl.com/COPINGWITHGRIEFNL

Learn more about grief, healthy ways to cope, and how to care for yourself while honoring the memory of someone you love. 💙

Did you know that Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care provides Grief Support Services to anyone in our community who are in need of services at no charge? Check out our July Grief Support programs.

We understand the unique concerns of those grieving. Our licensed grief counselors provide individual and family counseling. Additionally, we offer a slate of workshops, support groups and special programs aimed at grief education, self-care during intense grief reactions and developing coping skills that assist in working through the grief process.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact our Grief Support Team at 815.460.3295 or email [email protected].

Free training for community responders to learn how to support those who are grievers - Come join us!

Building Bridges of Support | Lightways This is a two part series: Beginning on Aug. 12, and ending on Aug. 19th. Both parts must be completed for all 4 CEUs. Come learn how to support the grievers in your community through this new training provided by Lightways Grief Counselors. We can all get better at grief, and learning what is most....

Lightways would like to thank Nancy Rau, the Chapter Coordinator for the Will County Project Linus, for delivering 30 quilted blankets for our campers in this year’s Peace of the Heart Kids Camp.

Here’s info on Project Linus: https://www.projectlinus.org. What a great organization!

Thanks to generous donations from the community, Lightways is able to continue to offer the kids grief camp free of charge to all campers. For more information on the Peace of Heart Camp, go to https://lightways.org/event/peace-of-the-heart-kids-camp/

Registration is open!

💙 Peace of the Heart Kids Camp 💙

Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care is now accepting applications for our Peace of the Heart Kids Camp, a supportive and engaging experience for children ages 7 to 13 who have experienced the loss of a loved one.

This special camp helps kids process grief in a healthy way while enjoying fun, meaningful activities like arts and crafts, games, music, and more.

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀:

🗓 June 29 to July 2, 2026
⏰ 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
📍 Nature Center at Pilcher Park

✨ Free of charge and open to all children, regardless of whether their loved one received hospice services from Lightways.

📅 Application deadline: May 28

👉 Learn more and apply: www.lightways.org/event/peace-of-the-heart-kids-camp/