Newington Memorial Funeral Home, 2 locations serving Newington and New Britain, Connecticut- funerals, cremation, caskets, urns, preplanning

Our care and concern does not end with the funeral ceremony. We realize that often the hardest times follow the funeral once family and friends have returned to their normal activities. Therefore, we offer bereavement services for those we serve. This includes our holiday remembrance program, annual children's walk, and other self - help seminars.

We are fortunate to have on our staff Marge Banach. She is a graduate of the University of Connecticut with a B.A. Degree in Human Development and Family Studies and graduate studies in Theology. She has been awarded a certificate from the Saint Francis Academy for Clinical Pastoral Training and continues to attend bereavement seminars to enhance her knowledge of grief support. She was previously employed by the Sisters of Mercy as Asst. Director of Extended Mercy and has also worked for the City of Hartford Department of Social Services. Marge is our firm's bereavement support coordinator and has extensive experience working with children, parents, and the elderly.

HOLIDAY REMEMBRANCE PROGRAM:
The holiday season can be a particularly difficult time for those who have experienced a loss of a loved one. We offer an annual holiday remembrance program on the first Saturday in December and everyone is invited to join us for an afternoon of music, reflection, and friendship. During our program, families hang ornaments on our tree and are encouraged to share a memory or a photo on the ornaments. For several weeks after the program our tree stands in our lobby filled with ornaments and memories. This continues to be an extremely inspiring and beautiful program.

LENDING LIBRARY:
We maintain a library of grief resource materials for use by the public. Our library includes well over 100 books, videotapes, audiotapes and brochures all authored or produced by nationally recognized authors. Topics include grief, bereavement, loss of a parent, death of a child, children and death, grief in the workplace, terminal illness, sudden and traumatic deaths, suicide and homicide, and many others. Our library has a comfortable sitting area where you can browse the materials or borrow what you need.

ANTICIPATORY GRIEF:
Anticipatory grief is a feeling of loss before a death occurs. It is often draining and confusing. "Grief work includes the processes that a mourner needs to complete before resuming daily processes," according to The National Cancer Institute. This grief work includes mentally separating from the person who has died, adjusting to a different life, and forming new relationships. While you're grieving for a loved one, you're also helping him or her with end-of-life preparations and finishing necessary tasks.

Parents and School Social Workers are sometimes unsure or frightened by the concept of talking with children about an anticipated death. To meet this need, our Bereavement Support Coordinator has attended continuing education programs by the Hospice Foundation and St. Francis Hospital's Pastoral Care Department to address anticipatory grief. She has provided consultation and resources for anticipatory grieving to school Social Workers, parents and for persons with terminal illness. Whether or not a family chooses to use our funeral home for wake and funeral services, we are available to provide guidance and support to families as they prepare for an anticipated death.

Our Bereavement Resources include books, which help adults, and children prepare for their own death or the death of a loved one. Topics include transformation, fear, and education in grief and loss. Some of our children's books are also appropriate for adults, ie. Gentle Willow: A Story for Children About Dying.

CHERISH OUR CHILDREN: A Walk to Remember the Child We Have Loved and Lost:
We sponsor a walk every October for families and friends who have experienced the loss of a child of any age. Upon arrival everyone registers the name of the child they are remembering and write their personal message on a purple balloon. Our short one-mile walk is followed by a program where several inspirational verses are read and uplifting music is played. We announce the names of the children remembered and end the program with a release of white doves. We return to the funeral home for refreshments and friendship. This walk has been a huge success, with over 300 people attending from throughout New England.

To learn more or participate in any of these programs, please feel free to call our funeral homes: Newington Memorial (860)666-0600 or Burritt Hill (860)229-9021.