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Welcome
After the death of a child, The Compassionate Friends (TCF) can help. TCF is an international organization that seeks to provide positive grief resolution after the death of a child.
The Chicagoland area has 11 active and thriving chapters open to parents, siblings and grandparents grieving the death of a child. In the United States there are over 600 local chapters. The Compassionate Friends National Organization office is located in west suburban Oak Brook, IL.
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Chapter Locations in Chicagoland
Arlington Heights\Northbrook - Aurora - Chicago - Chicago Southside - Elgin
Evergreen Park - Joliet - McHenry - Millburn - Richton Park - Villa Park
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We are very sorry about the death of your child. Words fail us to bring comfort at the darkest time a parent may ever experience. But we can say that we are glad you are here and we hope it is a place where you find support.
What we can offer you here is the fellowship and healing that has come to many people who participated in The Compassionate Friends for over 30 years. We are not professionals, there is no magic that we can offer to easy your pain. We are each bereaved parents, grandparents and siblings who's child, grandchild or sibling died too soon.
The Credo of The Compassionate Friends describes in beautiful words the healing and hope of this organization. Please take a moment to read the Credo and also the brief history of TCF. The formula is simple - people with a similar loss coming together to share their common experience. Unfortunately the road to healing is not as simple. Here is what other parents have said about the benefits of TCF.
We can tell you that the grief process is different for everyone. There is no "right way" to grieve. And there is no time when you should "get over it" or "move on". Perhaps you've heard similar phrases from family, friends and co-workers. It doesn't work that way.
The way you grieve, as long it is not destructive to yourself or others, is yours and yours alone. At TCF you may find that your grief is not too different from other parents. If you don't feel normal, if you think you're going crazy, you might be suprised to see how normal you are among other people at a TCF gathering. Here are some frequently asked questions about TCF meetings.
The Compassionate Friends is a non-profit organization. Each local chapter is run individually with a charter from the National Organization. There are 11 Chicago area chapters. The national organization has only a few full-time employees and everyone else is a volunteer. The resources available to you from the National Organization and Chicago Chapters include:
- The National Organization Website
- TCFChicago.org website
- Over 100 Local Chapter Websites
- Over 600 U.S. Chapters
- 11 Chicago area chapters (each meets monthly)
- Internet Chat Rooms grouped by gender or circumstances
- Annual National Conference
- Quarterly Magazine
- Brochures for parents, siblings, co-workers, funeral directors, etc.
- Chicago area events in Chicago
- List of other Chicago agencies and groups
- Links to other grief related websites
- Recommended Books and reading materials
Meetings are every month and you are welcome to show up unannounced and to bring a friend if you wish. Every meeting can be different and we encourage you to try 3 meetings before deciding if it is beneficial to you.
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