About Widowed Persons Service of Grand Rapids
Our local presence and efforts are unique to the Greater Grand Rapids area.
While Widowed Persons Service was established in 1973, specifically in the Grand Rapids area in 1978, many chapters have closed or become informational organizations only. Our organization and our services are special because of our focus on newly widowed people and helping each other get through one of the most difficult transitions in life, the death of a spouse or life partner.
Widowed Persons Service is a registered 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. Governance and oversight are provided by a Board of Directors. The board meets monthly and includes widowed representation. Several board members are local business people who share working relationships with widowed men and women in the areas of finance, insurance, funeral planning and legal matters/estate planning.
More Than Just a Widow Group
Widowed Persons Service offers each grieving individual peer-to-peer support based on the belief that a widowed person is best helped along his/her grief journey with the help of other widowed people who have had similar experiences.
And while a widow is defined by someone who has lost their spouse, we have many participants who have lost their life partner. You don’t have to have been married to experience this type of loss. We know many individuals who have lost a fiancee, partner or special friend they shared their life with. That is unique, and we are here to help.
We have experienced loss ourselves. Our support groups and social activities are led by and filled with people just like you. And while everyone handles such a profound loss and grief differently, and on their own timeline, we are here to tell you that it can and will get better. Let us show you how.
Program Policies
We have carefully created detailed Organizational Statements and Program Policies, formally adopted October 2011, with further information regarding our approach to services.