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.
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: Elizabeth Bicknell at 714-279-9180
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: Elsa at 714-790-9861
Cypress
St. Irenaeus Catholic Church
- 5201 Evergreen
Cypress, CA 90630 - Grief Share Support Group
- Contact: Jennifer Dagarag at jdagarag@sticypress.org
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 p.m.
- Contact: Louise Dow at 714-846-3359
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 Groups Mondays 7-8:30 pm OR Tuesdays 10-11:30 am
- Register on www.griefshare.org
Laguna Niguel
St. Timothy Catholic Church
- 29102 Crown Valley Parkway
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 - Grief Share Support Groups Mondays 4-5:30 pm in the Upper Room
- Contact: Patty at patty.mouton@alzoc.org
Lake Forest
Santiago de Compostela Catholic Church
- 21682 Lake Forest Drive
Lake Forest, CA 92630 - 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 p.m.
- Contact: 949-586-4440
Placentia
St. Joseph Catholic Church
- 717 N. Bradford Avenue
Placentia, CA 92870 - Passages Grief Support Group
- Contact: Teresa Thompson 714-996-1846 or text 714-458-6191
San Juan Capistrano
Mission Basilica Pastoral Center
- 31520 Camino Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 - Widows group on Tuesdays starting Nov. 9
- Contact: 949-234-1360
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
- 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
- 812 W. Town and Country Road
Orange, CA 92868 - Various Grief Groups for All Ages
- For more information on dates/times/registration 714-547-6494, www.mariposacenter.org
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, elaineq@saddleback.com
- 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
- Register at www.vitas.com
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
- Contact: Jeri Livingstone at 714-539-1429 or jandktoo@socal.rr.com
- Website: www.survivorsofsuicide.us
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
- About Childhood Grief
- Printable Grief Brochures from O’Connor Mortuary
- Red Bird Ministries: Catholic Grief Support for loss of a child
- The Emmaus Ministry for Grieving Parents