Grief Ministry
Grief Ministry assists those grieving in the Archdiocese of Seattle by providing spiritual and emotional support.
AOS Model for Grief Ministry
Assisting those grieving throughout the Archdiocese of Seattle (AOS) by providing a replicable model for parishes to offer spiritual and emotional support.
Events
Establish a grief ministry at your parish
Contact Maureen Cleverley grief.ministry@seattlearch.org to learn how you can establish a grief ministry at your parish.
Parish Family 2: St Joseph/ St Joachim/St Anne, Bellingham/Ferndale/Lynden/Blaine/Lummi. Contact: Dr. Kathy Ernst, Regional Director of Pastoral Ministries for Whatcom Catholic Family 2, kathy@whatcomcatholic.org
Parish Family 3: Immaculate Conception/ Sacred Heart/St. Charles/Immaculate Heart of Mary, etc., Skagit County. Contact: Jan Paul janpaulseattle@live.com
Parish Family 4: St Mary and St Hubert, Whidbey Island. Contact: Susan Wenzel, 360-675-2303.
Parish Family 5: St. Cecilia Parish, Stanwood. Contact: Linda Clay, lindarclay@gmail.com
Parish Family 6: Our Lady of Hope, Everett. Contact: Fr. Joseph Altenhofen, parish@ladyofhopechurch.org. Other grief resources available, like visits and cards, call main office 425-349-7014.
Parish Family 7: St Mary, St John, Everett, Mukilteo. Contact: Michelle McIntyre, 425-353-1211 ext. 119, mmcintyre@smmparish.org
Parish Family 8: Lake Stevens/Granite Falls, Snohomish, Monroe. Grief prayer group 2x monthly, but not a formal grief support group. Contact: Alicia Ramirez admin@hccclakestevens.org
Parish Family 10: St Elizabeth Ann Seton/St Pius X, Mountlake Terrace/Bothel. Contact: Linda Clay, lindarclay@gmail.com
Parish Family 11, Holy Rosary, Edmonds/Lynnwood. Contact front office for group times at 425-778-3122.
Parish Family 14, St Benedict, Seattle. Contact Margaret Alquist, margaretalquist1@gmail.com, 206-419-4875.
Parish Family 15: Our Lady of the Lake/St Bridget/St Catherine/Assumption, Seattle. Contact Grace Heider, parishadmin@neseattlecatholic.org.
Parish Family 17, St James Cathedral, Seattle: Anisa Ralls, aralls@stjames-cathedral.org. Immaculate Conception, Daniel LeFebvre, frenchman429@gmail.com.
Parish Family 19, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Seattle. Contact: Pam Stephen-Jordan, pams@westseattlecatholic.org, 206-935-0358, ext. 104
Parish Family 23, St Stephen the Martyr/St Anthony, Renton. Contact: Sharon Rasmussen, srasmussen910@yahoo.com.
Parish Family 24: St John Vianney/Holy Family, Kirkland. Contact: Mary Ann Dewing, maryanntd@msn.comt (HFK); Susan Weaver – sweaver@sjvkirkland.org (SJV).
Parish Family 25, St Anthony, Carnation. Contact: Maria, maria@stanthony-carnation.org
Parish Family 26, Sacred Heart Parish, Bellevue. Contact: Linda Geere, lgeere@sacredheart.org or Vanesa Padilla – vpadilla@sacredheart.org, 425-450-3908 x10108
Parish Family 27, St Louise, Bellevue. Contact: David Gehrig - david@stlouise.org
Parish Family 28, Mary, Queen of Peace, Sammamish. Contact: Bernadette Coughlin, Berncoughlin5@gmail.com.
Parish Family 30, St John the Baptist, Covington. Contact: Frank Hammock, hammockfmn785@comcast.net, 425-241-9190
Parish Family 31, St Vincent de Paul and St. Theresa Parish, Federal Way: Deacon Lezcano, deaconjuanlezcano@stvincentparish.org and Carlos Carrillo, ccarrillo@stvincentparish.org
Parish Family 33: Holy Family, Auburn. Volunteer, Pat Barr of Cabrini Ministry, runs grief ministry with groups that meet 2x/yr. Contact front desk for more info: 253-833-5130.
Parish Family 36, St Patrick/Holy Cross/St John Vianney, Tacoma/Vashon. Contact: Kristine Keough, 360-430-4361 (cell), kriskeough40@gmail.com
Parish Family 38: New program being developed by Fr. Tuan, 253-537-8551.
Parish 39, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Eatonville. Contact: administrator at 253-875-6630.
Parish Family 40, Sacred Heart Parish, Lacey: Brent and Karen Hyde, KarenEHyde@outlook.com, with Suicide Survivor Grief program beginning in January 2026. Grief Share groups with Katy Baker, katy@3hearts.org, beginning fall 2025.
Parish Family 41, St. Michael Parish, Olympia. Contact Bene Reece, breece@saintmichaelparish.org.
Parish Family 43: Grief Share program run by volunteers, ongoing, 360-425-4660.
Parish Family 44, Sacred Heart, Battle Ground. Contact: Kevin Howard – kah758@gmail.com, 360-487-9002
Parish Family 45, Our Lady of Lourdes, St James, and St. Joseph, Vancouver, WA: Mary Hernandez, pastoralcare@parishfamily45.org, 564-274-3066
Parish Family 46, Holy Redeemer, St Thomas, Our Lady of the Sea, Vancouver/Camas. Contact: Ginger Lowery, g.s.lowery@gmail.com
Parish Family 48, St Mary/Our Lady of Good Help/St Jerome/St Paul/Our Lady of the Olympics/St Joseph/St John, Grays Harbor. Contact: Chris Doyle, doylecs@gmail.com, grief support webpage, St. Mary Parish GriefShare - GriefShare & Hispanic Ministry, Perle Estrada 360-532-1514, hispanicministry@ghcatholic.org (resources available in Spanish)
Parish Family 49, Queen of Angels/St Anne/St Thomas the Apostle, Sequim, PA, Pt Townsend/Forks/Clallam Bay. Contact: Jeanne Stehly, (360) 683-6076, sj@clallamcatholic.org
Parish Family 50, St. Cecilia, San Juan Island County, Bainbridge Island. Contact: Wendy Kalskett (c) 360-517-5329.
Parish Family 51, Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish and Holy Trinity Parish, Bremerton. Contact: Kathy Warcup, kgwarcup@gmail.com.
AOS Model of Grief Ministry Program - ENGLISH
AOS Modelo de Programa de Ministerio de Duelo - ESPAÑOL
Comprehensive List of Documents for Each Monthly Meeting
Preface to St. Elizabeth Seton Model
NOTE: Catholic Cemeteries has funds available for parishes wishing to start a Walking through Grief Program. Please contact Make Gallitelli at make.gallitelli@seattlearch.org
Maureen Cleverley
Primary contact for archdiocesan Grief Ministry
Sharon Rasmussen
Primary consultant for AOS Model of Grief Ministry
Frank Hammock
Primary consultant for Walking Through Grief Program
Online Resources
Books
- Riding the Dragon, 10 Lessons for Inner Strength in Challenging Times by Robert J. Wicks
- His Cross in Your Life, by Bertrand Weaver, C.P.
- Being a Widow, by Lynn Caine
- Day by Day, by Jan Warner
Podcasts
- Good Grief - https://goodgriefhq.com/podcast
- “Episodes dive deep into the heart of what it means to grieve, featuring personal stories, expert advice, and honest conversations with others who’ve walked this road too.”
- Good Grief Believer - https://www.goodgriefbeliever.com/podcasts/good-grief-believer
- “Hosted by the compassionate voice of Julie Craig (M.A., Theology and Leadership, Gonzaga University), the Good Grief Believer Podcast offers a safe and relatable space where you'll find solace, support, and practical guidance to navigate the complexities of grief.”
- Grief Out Loud: Dougy Center - https://www.dougy.org/news-media/podcasts
- “Mix of personal stories, tips for supporting children, teens, and yourself, and interviews with professionals.”
- Unlocking Us: Brene Brown - https://brenebrown.com/podcast/grief-laughter-and-sisterhood-losing-our-mom-and-holding-on-to-each-other/
- “Grief, Laughter, and Sisterhood: Losing Our Mom and Holding On to Each Other”
- End-of-Life University: Dr. Karen Wyatt - https://www.eoluniversity.com/podcast
- “Hospice physician and author Dr. Karen Wyatt is familiar with loss, grief, and death. Her podcast outlines all that end-of-life care entails; burials, planning, and of course, grief. This compassionate and heart-opening podcast is there for anyone who needs to know that end-of-life isn’t always the end.”