Our Mission and Vision
At Good Grief Rochester, our mission is to provide compassionate and structured support to individuals navigating the challenging journey of grief. We believe in the power of connection and healing within a community, offering a safe space where emotions are respected and shared.
Our vision is to create a community where those who have experienced loss can find solace and strength. Through our guided sessions, we aim to empower individuals with the tools and support needed to move forward with hope and resilience.
Meet Our Founder
Good Grief Rochester was founded by Ms. Cheri A. Copie, a Certified Grief Counselor and author. She has walked in your shoes with the journey she experienced losing her 29-year-old son Jordan. While profoundly difficult to dig herself out of the grasp of depression and darkness, she learned immeasurable lessons on how to successfully maneuver the grip of loss. She learned how to embrace the feelings vs. ignoring them. The remarkable observation was that she felt incredibly isolated and “boxed in” with societal expectations. It is now her mission to give grief a voice and help others embrace their “new normal”. With a career dedicated to helping others as a Registered Nurse, through the complexities of grief, Cheri brings a wealth of experience and empathy to her role. Her dedication to providing thoughtful and effective support has been the cornerstone of our organization.
Cheri’s approach is deeply rooted in understanding and empathy, creating a nurturing environment that encourages healing and personal growth. Her sessions are thoughtfully designed to address both emotional and practical aspects of grief, ensuring that each participant feels supported on their journey. She listens intently to the group discussions and has no hesitation to challenge the participant to stretch themselves into healing growth. She’s frank, thoughtful and sometimes refreshingly chucklesome. Everyone’s journey is unique and should be honored. Grief is the price we pay for love. We need to shed brightness on our feelings, create a new future and if successful, be prepared to pay it forward giving grief a voice to others.
PROGRAM ASSISTANT, WENDY UNDERHILL
My name is Wendy Underhill and it is my great honor and pleasure to be able to assist Cheri Copie with this wonderful group/program – Grief Group of Rochester – that she has created to help people navigate the grief process and to find hope, strength, friendship and love in a safe environment with a community of peers experiencing similar grief and loss.
I am a lifelong resident of Monroe County, growing up in Irondequoit and now residing in Webster and I have been employed by the Rochester City School District for 30+ years. In addition, I am a member of the Board of Directors for the Western NY Chapter of the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Awareness, as well as a member of Healing Conversations and a Certified Mental Health First Aid Responder.
I have extensive experience with various types of grief and loss. On October 5th, 2018, I lost my only child, my son, Max, to suicide at the young age of 18 – my heart, greatest love & special angel – whom I carry in my heart always. In the last 7 years since Max’s passing, I have also experienced back-to-back losses of my sister-in-law/bff to suicide, the loss of another very close friend, several close family members, and then just recently, the very unexpected loss of my mom after a 2-1/2 week illness and then my uncle a month later. To say that the last 7 years (and prior) has been difficult is definitely an understatement!
Through intensive counseling, peer support groups such as this one, volunteer work, and the love & support of my family, friends and coworkers, I am happy to say I have found my “new light and normal”! It has become my passion to assist with Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Awareness, as well as to help others navigate through the journey of grief and loss to find peace, hope and love. Let us help you find hope and your light again!
“We will be okay, not because grief disappears, but because we grow around it… and if we stay open, light will always find its way back in”… Jameson Arasi