BRATTLEBORO — Atamaniuk Funeral Home is sponsoring its Holiday Support Program and Service of Remembrance on Tuesday, Dec. 4 for bereaved families and friends.
The annual event will again be held at Carl M. Dessaint VFW Post 1034, 40 Black Mountain Rd., at 7 p.m.
“Celebrating the holidays without a loved one can be one of the most strenuous events for a grieving family,” the funeral home writes in a news release. “Often, celebrations and special family traditions are difficult for the bereaved, so the funeral home is continuing this encouraging seminar.”
Speakers will share specific ways of coping with the holiday season and provide booklets and brochures designed to help those who are bereaved.
A candle-lighting ceremony will honor all families that have experienced a loss and will remember each deceased family member. Afterwards, refreshments will be served.
Organizers are encouraging those who plan on attending the event to invite two other people who have experienced a loss.
The program is open to everyone, not just families that were served by Atamaniuk Funeral Home.
The featured speaker will be Anne Black Ph.D., a local grief therapist who is the founder and executive director of The Warrior Connection.
Since 2010, the nonprofit organization has provided therapy for combat veterans, concentrating on resolving loss, healing moral injury and mitigating and reducing PTSD symptoms. Black has authored several books and has conducted workshops in the field of bereavement and aftercare.
Special music for this year's program will again feature local musician and composer Bill Shontz, who has for more than 30 years entertained millions of children and their parents throughout the country with his music and humor.