Connie Dawson
Bereavement Counselor
Connie trained as a bereavement counselor at I.U. Medical Center and in Minneapolis. For fifteen years, she was the bereavement coordinator at Bluffton Regional Medical Center, where she retired in 2007. At Thoma/Rich, Chaney & Lemler Funeral Home, her focus will include hosting quarterly support meetings, organizing after service follow-up items, and coordinating a holiday remembrance service. Connie will also be managing the funeral home’s Continuing Care Program. This program provides help and support to families for an entire year as they go through the grieving process. Connie is also available to meet with families on an individual basis as needed. Please feel free to contact Connie about our many resources that are available to families.

The death of a loved one forces a person to travel through the grieving process. A large-sized chunk has been bitten out of their life and now they must walk through their grief to find healing. Thoma/Rich, Chaney & Lemler Funeral Home's Continuing Care Program includes Doug Manning’s Continuing Care Series of books. During the first year of grief a family member will receive four books to help in their journey toward healing. Each book will try to give information and encouragement. It is our hope that the help will come at just the right time. We want you to know that we care and will continue to care.

Thoma/Rich, Chaney & Lemler Funeral Home also offers the following links to assist you in your grief journey.

Willowgreen
A leading provider of information and inspiration in the areas of illness and dying, loss and grief, healthy caregiving, life transition, and spirituality.
Growth House
An international gateway to resources for life-threatening illness and end of life issues. Hypertext topic pages link to sites around the world. Links to hospice and home care, bereavement, death with dignity, AIDS, and related topics in life-threatening illness.
GriefNet
GriefNet is an Internet community of persons dealing with grief, death, and major loss. They have many email support groups. Their integrated approach to online grief support provides help to people working through loss and grief issues.
National Hospice
and Palliative Care Organization
Committed to improving end of life care and expanding access to hospice care with the goal of profoundly enhancing quality of life for people dying in America and their loved ones.