Betty and Kerry Worrod knew something was wrong that December afternoon two years ago when their son Michael didn't come home from work at his usual time. Five hours later when the call came that tragedy had struck, they were both out frantically searching for him.

Unfortunately, the news was not good. As reported in the newspaper the next week, "Michael was driving home from his job on Regional Road 50, when a dump truck crossed the centre line just north of Palgrave and struck his pickup truck head-on killing the young Tottenham man. He was just 25 years old, engaged to be married and starting out in a new landscaping business with his fiancé. Because his own business was getting on track, Michael was planning to quit his job at the golf course that had him travelling home on Highway 50 on that terrible afternoon.

"The feeling of grief was unbearable," recounts Betty. "We needed someone to reach out to, to talk to, and to help guide me through the most devastating, heart wrenching time in my life."

After several unsuccessful attempts to find grief support in busy Christmas schedules at several local establishments, she saw an advertisement for Matthews House in the local paper. All it took was one phone call for Betty to find the caring, compassionate help she was so desperately seeking.

As part of our continuing support and care for families in our community like the Worrods, Matthews House is expanding our grief support program. In partnership with Rev. Keith Taylor, director of the Genesis Bereavement Centre in Newmarket, volunteers will be specifically trained to offer in-home support and companioning for bereaved individuals and their families who feel they would benefit from having a supportive individual in their life to talk to and share their story with, no matter how many months have passed since their loved one has died.

"Grief needs to be felt, and mourning needs to be done for as long as is necessary," explained Wendy Graham, co-ordinator of client programs and services at Matthews House. "We don't get over grief, we get through it. Then we rewrite our story and create a new normal. This process takes time, often longer than most people think or are comfortably willing to support."

Grieving the loss of a loved one is natural, normal and necessary for our own health. We can deal with and walk through our grief if given the support, time and a safe place to do it in. We at Matthews House would like to offer you and your family that time, that care, and that place, even if it is your own home.

Please remember we are here to honour and support you as you journey through your grief whether in-home or in our group support programs. We continue to offer eight-week Bereavement Support Group programs at Matthews House intermittently throughout the year. As well, we are assisting our local youth with Bereavement Support time at Banting Memorial High School and are planning to expand our youth program with an eight-week support group as well. We will also include grief support to children with the introduction of the H.U.G.s program this spring.

"(Matthews House) could not take away the sorrow, tears and hardship that I was experiencing," added Betty, "but they offered kind words and comfort to a grieving mom. Their group bereavement class taught us we were not alone, and that it was okay to feel the way we did. The Matthews House group was there when needed - it's a very helpful, friendly organization."

The Worrods recognize that the loss of a loved one is powerful and profound... a life changing experience. The pain of such a loss can be relentless and all consuming. They have recently expressed their gratitude for the support they received at Matthews House by giving back with an overwhelmingly generous donation of $1,500 from the Michael Worrod Memorial Golf Tournament. Their donation will play a vital role in consoling those in grief, and helping them heal and rebuild their lives.

All of the programs at Matthews House Hospice are free of charge. We are a registered charitable organization that depends on the financial support of the community to plan, expand and sustain these vital services. Please call us at 705-435-7218 to inquire how you can access our support, become a volunteer, or make a donation.