Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center hosting open house for 40th anniversary of grief support services

St. Mary's Medical Center founded the first hospital-based grief center in the U.S. in 1985. Four decades later, the program is celebrating its long history and the support it has provided to thousands of people.

The theme for the May 8 open house is “the art of grieving.” Attendees are encouraged to share a piece of art that illustrates their grief experience. By sharing this experience alongside caregivers and grievers, it acknowledges the pain of grief as well as what brings us hope and strength in the darkest of times.

The free event will be from 4-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 8, at Essentia’s Fifth Avenue Building, located at 503 E. Third St. Parking is available in the Green ramp, located at 453 East Third Street, or Lot 31, which is across the street from the Essentia Health-Fifth Avenue Building, located at 503 East Third Street.

Come enjoy an evening of interactive and therapeutic art. The schedule includes:

• 4:30 p.m.: A play written and acted by members of a young persons grief group.
• 5: Poetry readings.
• 5:30: Celebrating 40 years with Gina Dixon, grief program manager at Essentia, and Maggie Thickens, a grateful patient.
• 6: Gentle chair yoga workshop with Kristine Fitch, a grief therapist.

For those interested in sharing their grief or caregiving experience, please consider submitting a poem, photograph, drawing, painting, quilt, sculpture, collage or other artistic medium that highlights your story by noon on May 5. Be sure to indicate if you prefer to have your art displayed anonymously, by first name and age or with your complete name attached. You are also welcome to include “in memory of” and the name of your loved one.

For more information on submitting artwork, please visit the event page on our grief support website.

The event is free to attend, but RSVP is requested by May 5. Please email Kari Parsons at Kari.Parsons@EssentiaHealth.org.

Essentia’s grief therapy services for youth and adults impacted by life-threatening illness or bereavement are offered virtually and in-person in Minnesota and Wisconsin. These support groups are available at no charge. Our highly trained specialists help people navigate the bereavement period, process feelings, gain resilience, find hope and support and identify ways to cope.