Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County is offering two grief support groups in June. A 5-week grief support group series is starting on June 7 from 1-3 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 S. Blake Ave. in Sequim. A 6-week grief support group series is starting on June 8 from 2 – 3:30 p.m. at the VHOCC Conference Room, 829 E. 8th St. in Port Angeles.

The Sequim group will be facilitated by Debby Smith. Debby has a 35-year career as a registered nurse and has been a hospice volunteer for 25 years. She brings her wealth of experience in leading grief support groups, breast cancer patient care and psychiatric medicine. Her goal is to provide a safe atmosphere for open dialogue about the death and grief process and lessen the fear and anxiety associated with loss.

The Port Angeles group will be facilitated by Donna Geer. Donna holds a professional coaching certification and is currently the advisor to veteran students at Peninsula College and the owner of Shore Pine Productions. Her experiences with death and dying have helped her appreciate the importance of providing a safe place to talk about the death of a loved one.

Although there is no charge, space is limited in each group and participants must pre-register with the VHOCC office 360-452-1511. Both groups are likely to fill quickly. Another group will be offered mid-August in Sequim.

Since 1978 VHOCC has been providing free hospice services to patients and their families in Clallam County, from Diamond Point to Joyce. Part of VHOCC’s mission is to offer grief support groups, not only to families of hospice patients, but to anyone in the community who has experienced the death of a loved one.

To learn more about VHOCC visit VHOCC.org, VHOCC on Facebook, or call 360-452-1511.