Grief During the Holidays: Free Support in Fort Pierce and Stuart for Treasure Coast Families

Free community gatherings are coming this November. Here is what to expect, how to attend, and how to help someone you love.

There is a particular kind of memory that can catch you off guard during the holidays.

You might be reaching for a recipe you have made a hundred times, only to remember the person who taught you is not there to answer a question. Or someone mentions an old family tradition, and suddenly you are thinking about a holiday from years ago.

For people grieving the death of someone they love, familiar celebrations can bring comfort, sadness, laughter, or a mixture of all three.

This November, Treasure Coast Hospice is offering two free gatherings to help residents of Fort Pierce, Stuart, and surrounding communities navigate the holiday season.

You do not need to have received hospice services to attend.

Free Grief Support Gatherings in November 2026

Treasure Coast Hospice is hosting Navigating Grief Through the Holidays, two informal gatherings where participants can meet grief counselors, learn coping strategies, and connect with other people who have experienced loss.

Stuart

Wednesday, November 4, 2026 at 1 PM

Treasure Coast Hospice, Mayes Center
1201 SE Indian Street
Stuart, FL 34997

RSVP by October 30.

Fort Pierce

Monday, November 9, 2026 at 11 AM

William and Helen Thomas Counseling Center
5000 Dunn Road
Fort Pierce, FL 34981

RSVP by November 5.

Both gatherings are free and open to the public.

To reserve a place, call 772-403-4530 or email grief@treasurehealth.org.

See the official Stuart gathering details. Learn about Treasure Coast Hospice’s grief support services.

What Actually Happens at a Grief Support Gathering?

Walking into an unfamiliar group can feel intimidating, especially when the subject is something as personal as losing someone.

According to Treasure Coast Hospice’s October 20 interview with WQCS, the gatherings will include an introduction to the hospice’s grief support team, refreshments, a brief presentation about available services, and practical ways to navigate difficult holiday moments.

There will also be time to connect with other attendees.

The gatherings are primarily intended for adults. Families seeking support for children can ask about Treasure Coast Hospice’s separate youth programs.

You do not need to arrive knowing exactly what kind of support you are looking for.

Why Do Holidays Bring Back Grief?

Family traditions are often closely connected to the people who helped create them.

A birthday, Thanksgiving dinner, or familiar holiday song can remind us of someone who died, even many years after the loss.

Jacki Nardone, Treasure Coast Hospice’s regional director of psychosocial and pediatric services, explained to WQCS that people often struggle with whether to continue familiar traditions or change them after a death.

There is no single correct decision.

You might make someone’s favorite dessert and share memories around the table. You might prefer a quieter gathering. You might decide that a particular tradition needs to change this year.

All of those choices deserve respect.

How to Support a Grieving Neighbor

One of the most helpful things we can offer someone who is grieving is a little consideration.

Instead of assuming what they need, try a specific, gentle invitation.

I was thinking about you today. Would you like some company this weekend?

Or, if you knew the person who died:

I was remembering your dad’s sense of humor. Would you like to hear something that reminded me of him?

Practical help can matter, too. Offering to pick up groceries, share a meal, or help with an errand gives someone a choice without making them organize everything themselves.

And remember that grief does not end when the holiday decorations come down. Checking in during an ordinary week in January may mean just as much.

For Curious Kids and Grandkids: Keeping Family Memories

Children often have questions about death that adults find difficult to answer.

Younger children may need clear explanations that death means a person’s body has stopped working and the person cannot return. Euphemisms such as “went to sleep” can be confusing.

It is also common for children to move between sadness and ordinary play. They do not always express grief the way adults expect.

A family activity: The memory recipe

Invite a child to choose a favorite food, family tradition, or ordinary moment they remember sharing with someone who died.

Write down the memory together. Add a drawing, a photograph, or a few words about why it matters.

You can keep the page in a family recipe book, a memory box, or somewhere the child chooses.

A question to ask: “What is something about this person that you would like our family to remember?”

Children can participate as much or as little as they want.

Treasure Coast Hospice also offers grief support for children and families. Explore local family grief resources.

Listen, Watch and Do

Listen: A Local Conversation About Holiday Grief

WQCS spoke with Treasure Coast Hospice about the upcoming gatherings and why the holidays can bring difficult memories to the surface.

The short local report includes practical advice and details about what participants can expect.

Listen to the WQCS report.

Watch: Elmo and Jesse Remember Uncle Jack

Sesame Workshop created a video about remembering someone who died during birthdays and other special occasions.

It is a thoughtful resource for families with young children who may need help finding words for their feelings.

Watch the Sesame Workshop video.

Do: Create a Remembrance Flower

The Dougy Center, a national organization supporting grieving children and families, offers a printable activity.

Children can place a person’s name or picture in the center of a flower and fill the petals with favorite memories.

Download the Remembrance Flower activity.

Another Local Opportunity: Children’s Grief Awareness Day

Treasure Coast Hospice also announced a community walk on Thursday, November 19, 2026, at 5:30 PM at the Tradition Gazebo in St. Lucie West.

Participants are encouraged to wear blue in recognition of Children’s Grief Awareness Day.

The gathering is intended to raise awareness that children experience grief and deserve understanding and support.

Contact Treasure Coast Hospice for current participation details.

Why We Are Sharing This at Sanderling

At Sanderling Cleaning Company, caring for our neighbors is part of what we want our business to stand for.

Our communities are made up of families, retirees, caregivers, children, people celebrating milestones, and people quietly carrying difficult experiences.

We believe useful local information deserves to be shared, especially when it might help someone find support they did not know was available.

If you know someone facing the holidays after a loss, consider sharing this guide with them.

And if you are the person missing someone, these local resources are here whenever you are ready to explore them.

For more Florida community stories, family learning resources, and local discoveries, visit Sanderling Notes.