Widow support group starts up in Wooster
Sister’s Hope is a new support group in Wooster for widows. It began in January of this year and meets the last Thursday of the month at West View Wellness Center.
Losing a life partner is heartbreaking and challenging in many ways. It is an experience that can be hard to share with those who haven’t experienced a similar sort of loss. There are numerous resources available locally for grief counseling and connection, and now there is a new support group in Wooster for widows. Sister’s Hope began in January of this year and meets the last Thursday of the month.
The group is the brainchild of Dianna Stair, RN, LMT, West View Wellness Center director. “Over the last several years, my mother along with so many of my friends have become widowed,” she said. “I felt I had to do something to help them.”
Stair got word out for the first gathering and thought she might have four or five women show up. “We ended up having six tables at that first meeting in January, and it has been growing very rapidly ever since,” she said. “This shows me that there is definitely a huge need for this to be available in our community.”
Stair named the group after her sister, who died at age 42. “My sister always had hope,” she said.
The group has already more than doubled since it began simply by word-of-mouth.
At the monthly meetings, attendees share a meal, a brief devotion and have a guest speaker or activity. Speakers at past meetings include a member who wrote a book about her loss and a mother/daughter counseling team that presented techniques for coping with grief. Upcoming topics include how to avoid being scammed and the medical alert services offered by Wooster Community Hospital.
Past activities included a class in self-massage for hands and arms and creating a list of words and phrases of positivity and encouragement.
Group members have been coming up with a plethora of ideas for the future. Currently, they are compiling a booklet listing those members who wish to be included and their interests, hobbies and more. This will be a way they can connect with each other outside of the group and find like-minded friends. Another booklet has been suggested for recommended mechanics, handypersons, and other trusted companies and individuals to help with household and auto needs.
Lori Lehman has been part of the group since the beginning.
“It’s comforting to meet others who’ve walked this road before us or recently are walking this road,” she said, “a road none of us asked for or wanted. We find others that understand what we are going through because they’ve lived it. No one else can fully understand.”
Denise Mohler also has been part of the group since the first meeting. “It’s such a bond we share as widows, having common feelings as we face life on our own,” she said. “I’ve since invited three more widows.”
Becky Benninger has been widowed for a year and attends the gatherings. “The group is very supportive and fun,” she said. “I would welcome any widows to start attending.”
Sister’s Hope is a free group for widows of all ages. The group meets the last Thursday of the month from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Connection Conference and Event Center, 1034 Country Club Drive, Wooster. Attendees are asked to register in advance if possible by calling 330-466-2725 or The West View Wellness Center at 330-264-7673. Doors are open to anyone, whether or not they have registered.
“My goal is to provide a joy-filled, very relaxed, comfortable space where the widows in our community and surrounding communities can come and gather together for love, support and encouragement,” Stair said. “They can learn from each other, make lifelong friends with other ladies who know exactly how they feel, have helpful information available and offer them hope as they go through this very difficult time.”
Sheree Johnson has recently been attending Sister’s Hope. “It’s a good way to meet other widows,” she said, “a positive group of people and atmosphere, which makes it very enjoyable.”