Grief is one of life’s most overwhelming emotions, but in the view of Jenny Schroedel, Optage hospice chaplain, it can also be transformative.
Chaplain Jenny has dedicated her life to helping others navigate the pain felt at the loss of a loved one.
Note: Optage is the home and community services division of Presbyterian Homes & Services (PHS), offering support to live well with meals, home care and hospice.
A path shaped by personal loss
Chaplain Jenny’s journey into grief support began early. Growing up in a home marked by the loss of her elder, who died two weeks after birth, she was acutely aware of the impact of grief on her family. From high school onward, she was drawn to comforting and assisting grieving people.
During a decade in Hawaii, she served as director of bereavement services and helped establish Hospice of Kona’s Maluihi Grief Center.
Now, in addition to her role as Optage Hospice chaplain, Jenny brings her professional and personal experience to faith-based grief support across PHS and in the larger community.
A team approach to helping the grieving
The likelihood of experiencing grief increases as we age. Many older adults share a double whammy: losing a spouse, as well as a beloved home and way of life. Emotional responses can be strong, chaotic and unpredictable, cycling through anger, depression, fear and confusion, sometimes all in one day.
Chaplain Jenny helps people cope with these emotions in several ways: pastoral care, writing blogs, and creating a grief support curriculum for use across PHS and in the community.
She is part of a tightly connected network of PHS campus pastors, as well as Optage Hospice chaplains, who all support the grieving. Help is available to residents, hospice clients, their families and staff. And as the primary support within PHS communities, pastors proactively reach out when a resident is facing a loss.
Neuroscience and the grieving brain
Chaplain Jenny continually educates herself on grief, sharing insights from books like “The Grieving Brain” by neuroscientist Mary-Frances O’Connor, PhD. Modern science reveals that grief is a time of learning and growth as new neural pathways form to adapt to a changed world. All this takes time and energy.
A creative approach to grief support
Creative work often helps people engage with difficult emotions. Chaplain Jenny’s grief groups involve participants in creative activities, fostering deep connections and providing a safe space to express feelings. [Related blog: Mapping our grief – Optage]
A recent, innovative project, inspired by Ecclesiastes 3:1-11, opens discussion focused on the seasons of life. Participants share stories and are invited to bring an object or photo from each season, helping them uncover meaning in the twists and turns of their lives. Winter, in which residents reflect on their own mortality, has been especially powerful.
The role of faith in healing
Christian values shape the PHS approach to grief support, nourishing the spiritual dimension to the healing process. Chaplain Jenny observes that while there are many “fun” activities available across PHS communities, residents also seek out “the serious stuff,” welcoming opportunities to reflect on their lives, embrace grief and face their own mortality.
Residents can access pastoral care in the ways that work best for them. For some that might be talking with a campus pastor, for others sharing experiences in a supportive group. And everyone, including the public, can access the many helpful blogs at Optage grief support.
“Repressing grief can lead to significant emotional and relational costs,” she says. “Helping people understand that their grief is a natural and necessary part of life allows them to embrace their emotions and find new paths forward.”
Teaching faith-based grief support in the broader community
Jenny’s commitment to grief support has made her a recognized thought leader. She speaks at churches, mental health nonprofits and various community organizations in the Twin Cities, addressing topics like grief, loneliness, hospice and facing end-of-life. Her outreach helps bring the compassionate, faith-based approach of PHS to a broader audience.
For more information on grief support and the unique approach of PHS, explore the many useful resources offered by Optage.
