Bereavement Support
Our Health Services:
Hospice of Southern Maine is now united with Andwell Health Partners. Learn more about this exciting NEW CHAPTER HERE.
Everyone deals with the loss of a loved one in a different way.
Andwell Health Partners believes all people deserve access to services that can enhance quality of life. We are proud to offer bereavement services and programs that help people cope with grief due to the loss of a loved one. All bereavement services are offered free of charge.
Grief is a natural response to loss and an ongoing process that unfolds differently for each person. It may involve a wide range of emotions, as well as cognitive, physical, and spiritual effects. Many people find it helpful to connect with other grieving people in a group setting or speak to a bereavement support professional.
For program details, please select one of the options below:
Camp Dragonfly - For Children & Teens
Camp Dragonfly is a free one-time experience retreat for grieving children and teens ages 6–17, along with their adult support person. It provides a caring environment for families who have lost a loved one or are coping with terminal illness.
Led by trained counselors and volunteers, the camp offers education on grief, encourages open conversations about death and loss, and provides healing activities that help participants share their stories. Open to hospice and community families, each child must attend with at least one adult.
A film crew will be present at Camp Dragonfly this year to
capture footage for a video that will be featured at our signature gala, Autumn
Night Out in September, in support of our bereavement program. Families will be
asked to sign a media release form during registration to grant permission for
participation.
Memorial Services
Andwell offers Memorial Services to any facility where we provide hospice services. Often people cannot attend the services for a resident who has passed. This service can be helpful for other residents as well as staff to honor the memories of those they cared about and cared for.
A hospice chaplain will lead the service. We will create a program for you that includes all the names to be read. You may add readings or poems to make it to your liking. Music is always a nice touch. We can help with that too.
If this is something that you would like to have scheduled for your facility, fill out the Facility Memorial Request below and someone will be in touch.
Staff Bereavement Support
There are times that a facility may experience the death of several residents in a short period of time, or perhaps a resident that lived at the facility for a long period of time. If your staff would benefit from some support, we offer an activity that we refer to as the “Grief Garden.” This helps staff process their grief in a safe, confidential space. They will also leave with a dish garden to remember those special residents.
One-On-One Support
For persons whose loved one received hospice services from Andwell, we can offer bereavement support for up to 13 months from the time of the patient’s death. For those looking for bereavement support after someone has died who was not receiving Andwell services, we can offer up to 6 sessions. This support may be via phone, virtual or in-person depending on location.
Individual Grief Support
While we offer many grief support groups, we recognize some people are not comfortable in a group setting. We offer limited individual bereavement support sessions to family and friends of Andwell Health Partners patients. These sessions may be held by phone, virtually, or in our Scarborough office and are available for both children and adults.
Support Groups - For Adults
Finding support after a loss can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to walk through grief alone. Our adult bereavement groups offer compassionate, non-judgmental spaces designed to help you process your grief, rebuild connection, and rediscover hope. Whether you’re navigating the loss of a partner, coping with a sudden or traumatic death, or simply seeking community during difficult times, each group is led by experienced facilitators who understand the journey. Join us to share your story, honor your loved one, and heal in a caring environment—open to anyone in the community at no cost.
We recommend that individuals wait 2 to 3 months after the loss of a significant person to join a group. If you would like bereavement support sooner, please contact us.
Grief 101: Education and Support for the Newly Bereaved
Are you newly bereaved? Are you wondering if what you’re feeling is normal or okay? Join us for a session to learn about grief and connect with others experiencing similar situations. Unlike our typical support groups, Grief 101 is designed for people who are within the first few months of their loss.
Upcoming Grief 101:
Thursday, June 11, 2026
4:00pm-6:00pm
390 Route 1, Scarborough
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
5:00pm-7:00pm
VIRTUAL ONLY
Guidance Through Grief Group - Jay
Date: CHECK BACK WITH US IN AUGUST TO REGISTER FOR SEPTEMBER GROUPS
Time: 10:00am–11:30am
Location: 983 Main St Jay, ME (Jay-Niles Memorial Library)
Andwell Hospice believes all people deserve access to services that can enhance one’s quality of life after the loss of a loved one. Guidance Through Grief is offered to support individuals through the grieving process. All members of the community are welcome to join regardless of whether your loved one was a patient of Andwell Health Partners. There is no charge to participate.
Guidance Through Grief Group - Lewiston
Date:CHECK BACK WITH US IN AUGUST TO REGISTER FOR SEPTEMBER GROUPS
Time: 10:00am–11:30am
Location: 15 Strawberry Ave, Lewiston, ME
Andwell Hospice believes all people deserve access to services that can enhance one’s quality of life after the loss of a loved one. Guidance Through Grief is offered to support individuals through the grieving process. All members of the community are welcome to join regardless of whether your loved one was a patient of Andwell Health Partners. There is no charge to participate.
Guidance Through Grief Group - Scarborough
Date: Tuesdays, 6/2/26-7/7/26
Time: 1:00pm–2:30pm
Location: 390 US-1, Scarborough, ME
Andwell Hospice believes all people deserve access to services that can enhance one’s quality of life after the loss of a loved one. Guidance Through Grief is offered to support individuals through the grieving process. All members of the community are welcome to join regardless of whether your loved one was a patient of Andwell Health Partners. There is no charge to participate.
Guidance Through Grief Group - Scarborough
Date: Wednesdays, 7/15/26-8/19/26
Time: 10:30am–12:00pm
Location: 390 US-1, Scarborough, ME
Andwell Hospice believes all people deserve access to services that can enhance one’s quality of life after the loss of a loved one. Guidance Through Grief is offered to support individuals through the grieving process. All members of the community are welcome to join regardless of whether your loved one was a patient of Andwell Health Partners. There is no charge to participate.
Partner Loss Grief Group - Lewiston
Date: CHECK BACK WITH US IN AUGUST TO REGISTER FOR SEPTEMBER GROUPS
Time: 10:00am – 11:30am
Location: 15 Strawberry Ave, Lewiston, ME
Partner Loss is a support group for individuals who have lost a spouse, fiancé, or significant other. The loss of a life partner can cause many changes, emotions, and bring up many questions. Comfort can be found when you know that you are not alone. Having an opportunity to tell your story is an important part of your grief process. All members of the community are welcome to join regardless of whether your partner was a patient of Andwell Health Partners. There is no charge to participate.
Partner Loss Grief Group - Norway
Date: CHECK BACK WITH US IN AUGUST TO REGISTER FOR SEPTEMBER GROUPS
Time: 12:45-2:15pm
Location: 39 Main St. Unit 2 Norway, ME
Partner Loss is a support group for individuals who have lost a spouse, fiancé, or significant other. The loss of a life partner can cause many changes, emotions, and bring up many questions. Comfort can be found when you know that you are not alone. Having an opportunity to tell your story is an important part of your grief process. All members of the community are welcome to join regardless of whether your partner was a patient of Andwell Health Partners. There is no charge to participate.
Rebuilding Your Narrative (after a sudden or unexpected loss) Grief Group
Date: CHECK BACK WITH US IN AUGUST TO REGISTER FOR SEPTEMBER GROUPS
Time: 5:30pm – 7:00pm
Location: 15 Strawberry Ave, Lewiston, ME
Join us for our upcoming Rebuilding your Narrative Grief Support Group for adults who are experiencing traumatic grief. This group is to support those who are navigating their grief as a result of a loved one’s sudden, traumatic, or unexpected death (Due to homicide, overdose, suicide, motor vehicle accident, Death with Dignity (DWD), loss of a child or medical event). All members of the community are welcome to join regardless of whether your loved one was a patient of Andwell Health Partners. There is no charge to participate.
Bereaved Parents Monthly Group - Scarborough
Date: 2nd Monday of the month, (upcoming dates 4/13/26 and 5/11/26)
Time: 4:00pm-6:00pm
Location: 390 US-1, Scarborough, ME
This monthly group offers a compassionate space for parents grieving the loss of a child of any age. It provides an opportunity to connect with others who understand this profound loss and to find support, understanding, and community.
Expressive Arts Bereavement Workshop - Scarborough
Date: Thursday, 5/14/26
Time: 4:00pm-6:00pm
Location: 390 US-1, Scarborough, ME
Join us for an evening of artistic expression. Participants will have their choice of therapeutic art projects to assist in processing grief and loss. No art experience or skill necessary!
Virtual Bereavement Support Group
Date: Wednesdays, 7/8/26-8/12/26
Time: 5:00pm-6:30pm
Location: Virtual
Open to adults grieving a significant human loss, regardless of if your person was on our hospice service or not. This bereavement support group will be held virtually for those who prefer not to travel, or who are looking for a convenient evening meeting time. The group will be facilitated using Microsoft Teams and a link will be provided in the days prior to the first session.
The loss of her husband of nearly 51 years left Yvette Boivin feeling overwhelmed. Learning of Andwell Health Partner’s Pathways Through Grief support group enabled her to change her perspective on life and gave her a new focus. “During the eight-week session, I learned there are so many aspects to grieving, so many questions you need answered. I learned that it’s okay to be sad and more importantly, it’s okay to be happy. My husband would want that.”
– Yvette Boivin, support group participant