Bereavement & Grief Support

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Grief is a process that each person experiences uniquely in his or her own way. There is no doubt that grief comes with pain, a pain that varies in different degrees for each person. Emotions vary as well. The most common reactions to the death of a loved one are: shock, denial, anger, guilt, sadness, and finally acceptance. These may be felt in sequence or all at once.

Throughout the Diocese of Orange, one can find bereavement and grief support ministries. There is a downloadable and printable version of the below listing here.

Local and national resources for grief of perinatal loss are listed separately.

Orange County Bereavement And Grief Support Groups

Parish Grief Support Groups

Anaheim Hills
San Antonio de Padua Catholic Church
  • 5800 E Santa Ana Canyon Rd,
    Anaheim, CA 92807
  • 1st & 3rd Saturday of each month, 9:30 am-11:00 am in Conference Rm #1
  • Contact: Parish Office at 714-974-1416
Buena Park
St. Pius V Catholic Church
  • 7691 Orangethorpe Avenue
    Buena Park, CA 90621
  • 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month – 7:30 p.m. in Nativity Room
  • Contact: John Alba at 714-522-2193
Costa Mesa
St. Joachim Catholic Church
  • 1964 Orange Avenue
    Costa Mesa, CA 92627
  • Contact the parish: 949-574-7400
Cypress
St. Irenaeus Catholic Church
  • 5201 Evergreen
    Cypress, CA 90630
  • Grief Share Support Group
  • Contact: Jennifer Dagarag at [email protected]
Dana Point
St. Edward the Confessor Church
  • 33926 Calle La Primavera Dana Point, CA 92629
  • Suicide Bereavement Support Group: 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month at 6:30-8 pm
  • Contact: Teresa Alva at [email protected]
Fullerton
St. Mary’s Catholic Church
  • 400 W Commonwealth
    Fullerton, CA 92832
  • Grief Share Support Group, Tuesdays 7-9 pm
  • Contact: Deacon Tony Mercado at 714-525-2500
Huntington Beach
St. Bonaventure Catholic Church
  • 16400 Springdale St.
    Huntington Beach, CA 92649
  • Grief Support – weekly sessions on Thursdays 7 pm in Parish Conference Room
  • Contact: Deacon John Davis at 562-355-1550 or Wendy Figueroa at 714-580-2677 [email protected]
Irvine
St. John Neumann Catholic Church
  • 5101 Alton Parkway
    Irvine, CA 92604
  • Tuesdays weekly at 9:30 a.m.
  • Contact: Jane Roschmann at 714-667-2341
St. Thomas More Catholic Church
  • 51 Marketplace
    Irvine, CA 92602
  • Grief Share Support Group Tuesdays 10-11:30 am, April 18-July 25
  • Register on www.griefshare.org
  • Contact: KC Riley at 714-875-8126
Laguna Niguel
St. Timothy Catholic Church
  • 29102 Crown Valley Parkway
    Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
  • Grief Share Support Groups Mondays 3:45-6 pm in the Upper Room
  • Contact: Patty at [email protected]
Lake Forest
Santiago de Compostela Catholic Church
  • 21682 Lake Forest Drive
    Lake Forest, CA 92630
  • Grief Share Support Group Thursdays 7-9 pm
  • Register on www.griefshare.org
Mission Viejo
St. Kilian Catholic Church
  • 26872 Estanciero Drive
    Mission Viejo, CA 92691
  • Bethany Bereavement Group – Sessions are held each Thursday at 1:30-3 pm
  • Contact: 949-586-4440
Newport Beach
Our Lady Queen of Angels
  • 2046 Mar Vista Dr., Newport Beach, CA 92660
  • Seasons of Hope
  • Contact Parish Office 949-644-0200
Placentia
St. Joseph Catholic Church
  • 717 N. Bradford Avenue
    Placentia, CA 92870
  • Passages Grief Support Group meets Thursdays 7-9 pm
  • Contact: Sandi Charlesworth at 714-293-1694
Rancho Santa Margarita
San Francisco Solano Church
San Juan Capistrano
Mission Basilica Pastoral Center
  • 31520 Camino Capistrano
    San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
  • Walking in Hope Ministry Widows Group meets on Tuesdays
  • Contact: Robin Griffin 949-234-1360
Santa Ana
Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church
  • 1100 S Center St.
    Santa Ana, CA 9704
  • Ministerio de Consolación para Familiares en Duelo
    3er Jueves de cada Mes 7- 8:30 PM Salon Parroquial “C”
  • Contacto: Nelly Terrones a 714-478-5797
Yorba Linda
St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church
  • 19767 Yorba Linda Blvd.
    Yorba Linda, CA 92886
  • 1st & 3rd Saturday of the month in St. Elizabeth Room, 10-11:30 am
  • Contact: Peggy Squires at 714-270-2312

Other Grief Support Groups In Orange County

Compassionate Friends
  • Grief support for the loss of a child. Siblings over the age of 16 and grandparents also welcome.
Christ Lutheran Church
  • 820 W Imperial Hwy, Brea
  • Meets every 1st Thursday of each month at 7 p.m.
    or in Buena Park on the 3rd Tuesday of each month
  • Contact: Yolanda & George 714-335-4763
Compassionate Friends
  • Grief support for the loss of a child
Lakeview Senior Center
  • 20 Lake Rd
    Irvine, CA 92614
  • Meets every 1st Wednesday of each month 7-8:45 p.m.
  • For information, call 714-504-7042
Hoag Family Cancer Center
  • 1 Hoag Dr
    Newport Beach, CA 92663
  • Facing Forward
  • Meets virtually, Thursdays 3-4:30 pm
  • For more information, call: 949-764-8358
Mariposa Women and Family Center
Mission Hospital Laguna Beach
  • 31872 Coast Hwy
    Laguna Beach, CA 92651
  • Living Life Again Support Group
  • 11-week course / 3 times per year
  • For more information on dates/ locations call: 949-499-7133
Saddleback Church
  • 1 Saddleback Pkwy.
    Lake Forest, CA 92630
  • Grief Share – 13 week program. Contact: Elaine, 949-609-8392, [email protected]
  • Empty Arms Support Group: For families who have suffered the loss of a child from miscarriage or stillbirth. Meets Sundays. For more information, call 949-609-8370
St. Jude Community Services
  • 130 Bastanchury Rd.
    Fullerton, CA 92835
  • Healing Hearts After Loss
  • Online and in-person options
  • For more information, call 877-459-3627
VITAS Healthcare Grief Support Groups
Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services
  • Orange County Center
    2021 East 4th Street, Ste 204
    Santa Ana, CA 92705
  • Survivors After Suicide Attempt Support Group
  • 8-week program for adults only.
  • For more information or to register, call 714-547-0885
  • Suicide Bereavement Support Group
  • 8-week program for anyone who has lost someone to suicide
  • For more information, call 714-546-0885
SOS (Survivors of Suicide) Orange County
    • First Baptist Church of Garden Grove
      12761 Euclid St
      Garden Grove, CA 92840
    • Support for any adult survivor of a loved one who has died by suicide.
    • Meets 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month 1:30-3:30pm

With Hope Foundation
  • Suicide Bereavement Support Groups
  • Online Meetings: 1st & 3rd Mondays
  • In-person Meetings: 2nd & 4th Mondays
  • Contact: Heather Cram at 714-524-1996

Other Resources