North Shore-Boston Chapter
The Compassionate Friends
North Shore - Boston Chapter
Grief Support after the Death of a Child
This website is dedicated to the memory of all of our children.
The Mission of The Compassionate Friends is to assist families toward the positive resolution of grief following the death of a child of any age and to provide information to help others be supportive.
We are a national nonprofit, self-help organization that offers friendship, understanding and hope to bereaved parents, grandparents and siblings. Our meetings are open to all family members who are grieving the death of a child. There is no religious affiliation and no dues or fees.
WE NEED NOT WALK ALONE
WE ARE THE COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS
MESSAGE on COVID-19
Since April 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our chapter has been holding bi-monthly online video meetings in lieu of our in-person chapter meetings. As of January 2021, we added one in-person meeting per month to our meeting schedule. The in-person meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month and are limited to 15 participants. We will continue to hold our bi-monthly online video meetings on the first Monday and the fourth Wednesday of each month. Sibling online video meetings will be held on the third Wednesday of each month.
The October 2021 online video meetings will be held at 7:30 PM on Monday, October 4th and Wednesday, October 27th. The sibling online video meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 20th. The in-person meeting will be held at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, October 20th. COVID guidelines will be followed at the in-person meetings, including wearing masks and keeping socially distant. An email invitation will be sent to members prior to each meeting. You may also request an invitation by emailing tcfnoshoreconnect@gmail.com to let us know that you would like to participate.
In addition to our online chapter meetings, other support options are listed below:
1) TCF Live Chats: The National TCF website offers scheduled Live Chat sessions on different days and with different topics. The details can be found here: National TCF Live Chat Schedule
2) Private Facebook Groups: TCF offers several private Facebook groups facilitated by bereaved parents, grandparents or siblings. They can be accessed here: TCF Private Facebook Groups
3) TCF North Shore-Boston Facebook Page: Our chapter has its own Facebook page that is active with members from our chapter. You can access it here: TCF North Shore-Boston Facebook Page
Website Sponsor Messages
Our website is sponsored this month in
loving memory of:
DANIEL NOAH FINE
Remembering Daniel Noah Fine
on the 23rd anniversary of his passing
We remember our son and brother Danny for his nurturing way-
caring for other people's feelings, for his uncompromising honesty,
sincerity, generosity, and sense of fairness.
He strove for perfection in everything he did,
whether rowing on his college's crew team, academics, or work.
He experienced a spiritual maturing during the early months of his illness
when he thanked us, his parents, for giving him life.
He faced his illness with extraordinary courage and dignity,
never complaining or expressing anger or asking, "Why me?"
He would have been a wonderful father and we lost the promise of
how much more he had to offer as a human being.
Although his life was far too short, we will love him forever.
Always in our hearts and minds.
Mom, Dad, Aron and Rebecca
TIMOTHY GLENDINNING
Dear Timothy,
10/27/1996 is your day of birth, it will always be a Miracle Day for me and your mom.
Our last letter together, spoke of our last day together and this letter I would like to talk about our first day together. It is a miracle, after 10 years of medical treatments, your mom was never giving up until you showed up at the hospital. I remember that day, Mom went to the doctor, got an ultrasound, and brought home your photo as though you were posing for the camara. We could see your chubby cheeks and there was even a bit of a smile. You showed up the next day on 10/27, looking exactly like your ultrasound photo, smile and all.
I cannot express the joy, love, and happiness from that first moment when I saw you and held you in my arms. Your Mom and I could not take our eyes off you as you slept in our arms, it was a miracle. We did not think of all the years, all the miles traveled from one doctor to the next, that did not matter, what mattered was we had our Timothy Christian finally. This day, your birthday, has always been more important to us than you know, and will always be a miracle day.
Every birthday for the last 10-15 years, I would give you a model car and write that year on the car. I still do that and have a collection since your passing, on a special shelf unit I made for them. Some people may think it’s unusual, but it’s my way to recognize that miracle day, your birthday, and I will do it this 10/27 and for as long as I can. Our first day together as it has been said… “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship”. Our love, joy and friendship will always be in our hearts. We miss you and love you, especially on this miracle day…your birthday, our first day together, 10/27/1996.
Love,
Mom, Dad and Katherine
Meeting Updates
Our next chapter meetings will be held on:
Monday - 10/4/21
7:30 PM
Online Video Meeting
(E-mail invitation to follow)
You may also contact
to request an invitation
Wednesday - 10/20/21
7:00 PM
In-Person Meeting
(Meeting will be limited to 15 participants)
Please contact
if you would like to attend
Topic: Anger / Guilt / Regrets / Forgiveness
Facilitator: Carmen
Wednesday - 10/27/21
7:30 PM
Online Video Meeting
(E-mail invitation to follow)
You may also contact
to request an invitation
-and-
Sibling Online Video Meeting
(E-mail invitation to follow)
You may also contact
if you would like to participate
Topic: Open Sharing Session
Click here for our 2021 schedule:
In the event of inclement weather, necessitating the closing of North Reading public schools, our chapter meeting will also be canceled.
Website Sponsor Messages
Our website is sponsored this month in
loving memory of:
JILLIAN ANNE SULLIVAN
Dear Jillian,
You lived a full life with all of its "ups" and "downs"
and I continue on that journey.
I am so blessed for the twenty years we had together.
You taught me the true meaning of love!
I miss you desperately but am grateful you are safe in God's care.
I will do my best to live well here as I wait to see you again
my dear sweet Jill.
Love Always and forever,
Mom
TIMOTHY GLENDINNING
Dear Timothy,
It will be four years on 9/4/21 when we had our goodbyes at Endicott College, you were starting your Junior year. It seems like yesterday, or a few hours ago, or another whole world away. We miss you every measure of time and we long to hold you, as you were, when you were a little boy. Our sense of time has changed since we last had those few parting words, “I’ll see you later”. Your Mom, sister and me talk about you often, and many times it’s sad, or there are times when you are right there in the kitchen having a smile and laughing…God we miss those times. Time is now an unusual thing, not like it was before, it’s something we have had to learn how to figure out. My watch runs differently, days it can fly by and days it hardly moves at all. There are times it moves backward, and I get stuck thinking how you were as a child, my little boy, those days are the most special of any days.
Our time was much too short, but every day, every moment, you will live in our hearts forever. Your whole family and all your friends miss you and love you, and someday we will see each other. I may even say, you see I was right. I’ll see you later…and that will be a great day. I like to think about 9/4, our last day together, we spent the whole day together, shopping for school, getting you set up. Never in a million years or more, would anyone know that was our last day together. I travel past those places we went to, and I can still see you coming out of Staples and saying, “OK lets go, I’ve got everything”. My parting thought is just that, “You never know when it’s the last day together”. Appreciate those moments, you never know…it’s time which could change the next day…like 9/5/21.
All our love forever,
Mom, Dad and Katherine
Meeting Updates
Our next chapter meetings will be held on:
Monday - 10/4/21
7:30 PM
Online Video Meeting
(E-mail invitation to follow)
You may also contact
to request an invitation
Wednesday - 10/20/21
7:00 PM
In-Person Meeting
(Meeting will be limited to 15 participants)
Please contact
if you would like to attend
Topic: Anger / Guilt / Regrets / Forgiveness
Facilitator: Carmen
Wednesday - 10/27/21
7:30 PM
Online Video Meeting
(E-mail invitation to follow)
You may also contact
to request an invitation
-and-
Sibling Online Video Meeting
(E-mail invitation to follow)
You may also contact
if you would like to participate
Topic: Open Sharing Session
Click here for our 2021 schedule:
In the event of inclement weather, necessitating the closing of North Reading public schools, our chapter meeting will also be canceled.
Website Sponsor Messages
Our website is sponsored this month in loving memory of:
JILLIAN ANNE SULLIVAN
Dear Jillian,
You lived a full life with all of its "ups" and "downs"
and I continue on that journey.
I am so blessed for the twenty years we had together.
You taught me the true meaning of love!
I miss you desperately but am grateful you are safe in God's care.
I will do my best to live well here as I wait to see you again
my dear sweet Jill.
Love Always and forever,
Mom
TIMOTHY GLENDINNING
Dear Timothy,
It will be four years on 9/4/21 when we had our goodbyes at Endicott College, you were starting your Junior year. It seems like yesterday, or a few hours ago, or another whole world away. We miss you every measure of time and we long to hold you, as you were, when you were a little boy. Our sense of time has changed since we last had those few parting words, “I’ll see you later”. Your Mom, sister and me talk about you often, and many times it’s sad, or there are times when you are right there in the kitchen having a smile and laughing…God we miss those times. Time is now an unusual thing, not like it was before, it’s something we have had to learn how to figure out. My watch runs differently, days it can fly by and days it hardly moves at all. There are times it moves backward, and I get stuck thinking how you were as a child, my little boy, those days are the most special of any days.
Our time was much too short, but every day, every moment, you will live in our hearts forever. Your whole family and all your friends miss you and love you, and someday we will see each other. I may even say, you see I was right. I’ll see you later…and that will be a great day. I like to think about 9/4, our last day together, we spent the whole day together, shopping for school, getting you set up. Never in a million years or more, would anyone know that was our last day together. I travel past those places we went to, and I can still see you coming out of Staples and saying, “OK lets go, I’ve got everything”. My parting thought is just that, “You never know when it’s the last day together”. Appreciate those moments, you never know…it’s time which could change the next day…like 9/5/21.
All our love forever,
Mom, Dad and Katherine
Meeting Updates
Our next chapter meetings will be held on:
Tuesday - 9/7/21 - 7:30 PM
Online Video Meeting
(E-mail invitation to follow)
You may also contact tcfnoshoreconnect@gmail.com
to request an invitation
Wednesday - 9/15/21
7:30 PM
Online Video Meeting
(E-mail invitation to follow)
You may also contact tcfnoshoreconnect@gmail.com
to request an invitation
-and-
Sibling Online Video Meeting
(E-mail invitation to follow)
You may also contact Aimeeb15@gmail.com
if you would like to participate
Topic: Open Sharing Session
Wednesday - 9/22/21
7:00 PM
In-Person Meeting
(Meeting will be limited to 15 participants)
Please contact tcfnoshoreconnect@gmail.com
if you would like to attend
Topic: How Will I Be Feeling in the Years to Come?
Facilitators: Tim & Dave
Click here for our 2021 schedule:
In the event of inclement weather, necessitating the closing of North Reading public schools, our chaper meeting will also be canceled.
Event Updates
See information below for upcoming TCF events:
WALK TO REMEMBER
SUNDAY
9/19/21
10 AM - 1 PM
Ipswich River Park
15 Central Street
No. Reading, MA
Click here for additional information:
Website Sponsor Messages
Our website is sponsored this month in loving memory of:
GALE McLAUGHLIN
You left us fifty-two years ago, Gale, and we have always felt that void in our lives.
Maybe it was because you were our only daughter, but we think it was just part of losing a child!
With all these years that have gone by, we also feel very blessed despite losing our daughter.
It took lots of time and grief work for us to get to that point.
We are blessed with three sons and their wives and five beautiful granddaughters!
So, to all those bereaved parents out there, we just want you to know that for us, we got to a pointto look for those postives and to be open to them and to have hope!
Those are our wishes for parents suffering the death of their child.
We love you, Gale!
Mom and Dad
BRIANNA PAUL
From the day you could speak you roared
Angelic curls and a smoky voice
From the day you took flight you soared
Landing only when forced, never by choice
When death chooses one so vibrant and bold
It seems to mock our reason to be
But life and death could never hold
Or extinguish the power of Bri
Love you always,
Mom, Dad, Erin and Eden
Event Updates
See information below for upcoming TCF events:
WALK TO REMEMBER
September 19, 2021
Ipswich River Park
15 Central Street
North Reading, MA
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Click here for additional information and to register:
Website Sponsor Messages
Our website is sponsored this month in loving memory of:
GALE McLAUGHLIN
You left us fifty-two years ago, Gale, and we have always felt that void in our lives!
Maybe it is because you were our only daughter, but we think it is just part of losing a child!
With all these years that have gone by, we also feel very blessed despite losing our daughter.
It took lots of time and grief work for us to get to that point.
We are blessed with three sons and their wives and five beautiful granddaughters!
So, to all those bereaved parents out there, we just want you to know that, for us, we got to a point to look for those positives and to be open to them and to have hope!
Those are our wishes for parents suffering the death of their child.
We love you, Gale!
Mom and Dad
BRIANNA PAUL
From the day you could speak you roared
Angelic curls and a smoky voice
From the day you took flight you soared
Landing only when forced, never by choice
When death chooses one so vibrant and bold
It seems to mock our reason to be
But life and death could never hold
Nor extinguish the power of Bri
Love you always,
Mom, Dad, Erin and Eden
Chapter Meeting Updates
Our next chapter meetings
will be held on:
Tuesday, 9/7/21 - 7:30 PM
Online Video Meeting
(Email invitation to follow)
You may also contact tcfnoshoreconnect@gmail.com
to request an invitation
Wednesday - 9/15/21 - 7:30 PM
Online Video Meeting
(Email invitation to follow)
You may also contact tcfnoshoreconnect@gmail.com
to request an invitation
-and-
Sibling Online Video Meeting
(Email invitation to follow)
You may also contact Aimeeb15@gmail.com
if you would like to participate
Topic: Open Sharing Session
Wednesday - 9/22/21 - 7:00-8:30 PM
In-Person Meeting
(Meeting will be limited to 15 participants)
Please contact tcfnoshoreconnect@gmail.com
if you would like to attend
Topic: How Will I Be Feeling in the Years to Come?
Facilitators: Tim & Dave
Click here for our 2021 schedule:
In the event of inclement weather, necessitating the closing of
North Reading public schools, our in-person chapter meetings
will also be canceled.
Website Sponsor Messages
Our website is sponsored this month in loving memory of:
NICHOLAS RYAN AMIRAULT
In memory of our dearest Nicholas
14 years without you,
your smile and your hugs
has been a struggle,
but we know you are keeping
an eye on all of us
and that makes each day
a little bit easier.
Love you, miss you . . . forever
Dad, Mom, Holly and family
JAMES ARTHUR KIRIAKOS
In memory of Jimmy
It's sometimes hard to know why
some things happen as they do
for so much Joy and Happiness
was centered around you
It seems so hard to comprehend
that you're no longer here
but all the HAPPY MEMORIES
will help to keep you near
You're thought about with pride JIMMY
with each mention of your name
death cannot change a single thing
the LOVE will still remain
Love, Your Family & Friends
Event Updates
See information below for upcoming TCF events:
CANDLELIGHT REMEMBRANCE SERVICE
12/12/21
6:30 PM
Click here for additional information: