Guests
Tara Hempel, MSW
Tara Hempel, a licensed masters-level social worker, is a pediatric bereavement specialist for The Community Hospice. She works with children of all ages across the Capital Region who have suffered death-related losses. Tara specializes in traumatic loss, including homicide, suicide, and accidents.
She serves as the director of The Community Hospice’s Camp Erin, a weekend camp for grieving children and teens, and as co-director of The Community Hospice's Wave Riders Program, a six to eight-week support group for grieving children and their families.
She has served on many committees, including Voices of Hope, KaBOOM!, H.E.A.R.T.S., Gun Violence Task Force, and the Trauma Response Teams of Albany and Schenectady counties.
Tara strives to support grieving children and their families, restoring hope and healing to those in distress.
Maryanne Malecki
Maryanne Malecki is the Executive Director of Haven of Schenectady. Haven of Schenectady offers facilitated self-help support surrounding grief and loss through individual or group sessions for adults, teens, and children.
Gina Peca
Gina Peca is a mother who with her husband founded The Catie Hoch Foundation in memory of their cheerful and courageous daughter. Catie developed kidney cancer when she was 7. The cancer spread, eventually taking her life in May 2000, when she had just turned 9. Gina’s husband Larry Hoch, died at the age of 52, in July of 2012 after a long battle with a brain tumor. Gina says she is living a "roller coaster of a life" and is slowly getting back into the swing of things by blogging and hoping to help other people as well as overcome her struggles.
Regina Stewart
Regina Stewart’s 17 year old son, Christopher was killed in a car accident in December of 2012. She began blogging as a way to express gratitude while dealing with an avalanche of condolence cards and well-wishes following her son's death. Through her blog titled, "I believe that we can win", Regina discovered way to preserve memories of Christopher and a source for healing.
Related Resources
• American Psychological Association
•Coping With the Loss of a Loved One - American Cancer Society
• Sesame Street Toolkit for Parents and Caregivers
• National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
• Coping with Grief and Loss - Helpguide.org
•Helping Others Through Grief, Loss, and Bereavement - Helpguide.org
• A LifeCare® Guide to Helping Others Cope With Grief
• This Emotional Life – Grief and Loss
• Hearts & Crafts Grief Counseling
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