Every person must cope with loss of a loved on his or her own terms. The emotional upheaval these trying times can cause is sometimes so overwhelming that even the support of friends and family may not help relieve the amount of sadness and grief you feel. At Knapp-Johnson Funeral Home we provide information for the following aftercare grief sessions:

Local Grief Resources

Grief Share
GriefShare is a special seminar and support group for people grieving the loss of someone close. This group is sponsored by people who understand what you are experiencing and want to offer you comfort and encouragement during this difficult time.


Suzanne L. Howell, M.A.
Suzanne L. Howell, M.A., LCPC, is owner of Suzanne Howell Counseling in Morton, IL. She has devoted the last 20 years to the field of grief and bereavement service. She has a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis on grief from Anitoch University and is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the state of Illinois. Additional specialized training has been received in grief, loss and trauma from The Grief Recovery Institute, ACCORD Grief Management Service and The Center for Loss and Life Transition. Suzanne is former Vice President of The Wilton Mortuary, Peoria, IL where she initiated grief recovery programs and facilitated numerous support groups.

She is a frequent contributor to Grief Magazine™, now called New Leaf Magazine™, a quarterly publication for the bereaved. She is also a frequent presenter for Compassionate Friends and local Hospice and other grief support groups. In addition to presentations done through her own business she has for the last 13 years been a presenter through New Leaf Resources, a division of Sherry William Enterprises of workshops for the bereaved and for such professionals as medical personnel, school counselors and clergy. She is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. Suzanne serves as Adjunct Faculty at Illinois Central College, East Peoria, IL, teaching Death and Dying and Aging courses.

As Director of Family Ministries at First Baptist Church in Morton, IL she is in frequent lay ministry contact with families who are experiencing the dying and death of someone they love. She also teaches an adult Sunday School class and with her husband, David, leads a weekly Children’s Worship Service.

In the aftermath of the events of September 11, 2001, Suzanne was invited by the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) to accompany Sherry Williams in addressing the grief issues of widows, parents and children of fallen fire fighters. In addition, she debriefed and provided insight into appropriate coping skills and techniques for firefighters at City fire department locations as well as Headquarters personnel.

Willowgreen
A leading provider of information and inspiration in the areas of illness and dying, loss and grief, healthy care giving, life transition, and spirituality.

Growth House
An international gateway to resources for life-threatening illness and end of life issues. Hypertext topic pages link to sites around the world. Links to hospice and home care, bereavement, death with dignity, AIDS, and related topics in life-threatening illness.

GriefNet
GriefNet is an Internet community of persons dealing with grief, death, and major loss. They have many email support groups. Their integrated approach to online grief support provides help to people working through loss and grief issues.

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
Committed to improving end of life care and expanding access to hospice care with the goal of profoundly enhancing quality of life for people dying in America and their loved ones.