A grief support group that has been testing its expertise for 10 months at St. Anthony Catholic Church is extending an invitation to the public to join.
The goal is to bring comfort to those who are bereaved. The group meets the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at the church.
Deacon Jeff Pierfy, one of the leaders, is a former hospital chaplain who saw a need for such a group when he and his wife moved to Florence from Hamilton Township, N.J.
“We want people to come and express their feelings,” he said. “They can cry, get everything off their chest by telling their story or pass. We offer honest conversation/dialogue in a nonthreatening arena.”
Pierfy said the St. Anthony group wants to open its sessions to others because, “We think there have to be other people out there who are having difficulty and need this kind of group. When people are hurting, they need a support group to let things out.”
Richard “Dick” Frate is the group coordinator. His devoted wife of 48 years, Carolyn, died two years ago of lung cancer.
Frate stood by her side through hospice at McLeod Regional Medical Center. After her death, he went through a year of grief counseling with hospice counselor Jessie Tanner.
“I talked to Jessie and she suggested we begin a grief support group,” Frate said. “She said there really wasn’t one on a continuing basis in the area. So I agreed to start one after it was approved by Father Art Dalupang at St. Anthony.”
Frate said the group offers a continuation of support that is needed after a loved one dies.
“It reinforces my needs as well as allowing me to help others who are more newly bereaved,” he said. “We try to reduce the pain that you go through when you suffer the loss of a loved one. Although it doesn’t eliminate the pain, it does help you get through that critical time when you don’t know which way to turn.
“But no matter what the grief process is, we try to reinforce and encourage each other. That’s why I think the group is important for St. Anthony and the whole community. We welcome any and all to come.”
People seeking more details about the group can call Pierfy at (843) 629-9212.
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