Memorial Service, Grief Support Program For DeCecca On Monday Night

A memorial service and community grief support program in remembrance of Dina DeCecca will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, July 19 at Memorial Hall.

The program, sponsored by VNA Hospice Care of Woburn, will allow community members to share their thoughts and memories of Dina through a service guided by VNA Hospice Care's chaplain, according to program facilitator David Quemere. Individual support from social workers and nurses will also be available.

"There will be some music and kind words from (the chaplain)," Quemere said. "If there are people there who are really having a hard time during the service, there's other staff there that'll be able to help them at that time. Down the road, if they want to continue getting help, we can do that or tell them how to get extra counseling."

Quemere also offered advice for parents whose children who knew DeCecca and struggling with their grief:

• Listen to what their children have to say and what their fears might be.
• Reassure their children that it was a tragic, uncommon accident and that they are there to support their children.
• Pay attention to any change in their children's behavior or comments, while not hovering over their children, and seek additional counseling if their children's comments become morbid.
• "Kids might become more clingy to their parents, which is natural," Quemere said. "If it continues, though, they might want to get a counselor to see the kids." Parents can contact their primary care physician for a referral to a child therapist.
• Contact the Hoover School, which had grief counselors available last week, about additional support.
• Counseling is also available through VNA Hospice Care, which can be contacted at 781-569-2888.