Our Mission and Vision
Good Grief Rochester – Mission Statement
At Good Grief Rochester, we believe that healing begins through connection. Our mission is to create a compassionate space where grief can be spoken, shared, and understood—with reverence, grace, and respect for every individual’s journey. We give people the courage to express their loss openly and the support to rediscover hope within a community of those who truly understand.
By open conversation and shared compassion, we turn silence into strength and grief into growth—one story, one heart, one step at a time. Together, we honor what was, accept what is, and gently embrace the new normal that follows loss—walking beside one another toward healing and renewed hope.
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Honoring what was, embracing what is, and hope finds its way home.
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
Cheri A. Copie, BSN, MS, CGC cheri@GoodGriefRochester.com
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.
CERTIFIED GRIEF COACH
DIRECTOR OF CONNECTION & CARE, CATHERINE SPEICHER CatherineS@GoodGriefRochester.com
At Good Grief Rochester, we believe that healing begins through connection—and few embody that belief more beautifully than Catherine Speicher. Catherine first joined Good Grief Rochester as a participant, courageously walking her own journey through loss. With grace, compassion, and a heart attuned to others, she now continues that journey in a key role—as our Ambassador role for our active Participants. I am in training to become a certified grief coach under the supervision of Ms. Copie.
Catherine extends a personal touch that defines GGR’s community care. She provides 1:1 outreach to each participant, offering a warm welcome, checking in on their progress, and helping ensure that every individual feels seen, heard, and supported. Her insights help us refine and strengthen our programs—so that GGR continues to grow in empathy, connection, and purpose.
Catherine’s natural kindness, listening ear, and gentle presence remind us that grief shared is grief lightened. She approaches each conversation with genuine curiosity, compassion, and encouragement, fostering the sense of belonging that makes Good Grief Rochester feel like family. We appreciate Catherine’s continued support with GGR and the light she brings to our community. Her example reminds us that healing not only happens through community—but also because of people like her.
🕊️ “Together, we honor what was, accept what is, and gently embrace the new normal that follows loss.”
Patti O’Brien, Group Facilitator PattiO@GoodGriefRochester.com
My life profoundly changed on October 28, 2024, when my husband Tim passed away. We had been married for more than 51 years and had been together since high school. Our marriage and family were the foundation of my life, and I continue to navigate each day doing the slow, tender work of healing.
I first considered joining a grief group because I needed to be around others who truly understood how I felt—sad, confused, lonely, angry, and sometimes empty. Finding Good Grief Rochester became an important step in my healing. Being part of this community has helped me begin to look for ways to fill the space that grief and this new phase of life has opened.
What I have found most meaningful about Good Grief is the safe and compassionate space it creates. Through our group conversations, shared stories, and the simple act of being present for one another, I have learned that healing doesn’t happen alone. Listening to others, offering encouragement, and reflecting together helps remind me that grief is a journey we can walk side by side.
The people I have met through Good Grief have become much more than fellow participants—they have become friends. Together we share not only the sorrow of losing someone we love, but also moments of strength, hope, and small victories along the way. We support and lift each other, celebrating progress—no matter how big or small—and reminding one another that life can still hold meaning and connection even after deep loss.
After experiencing firsthand the comfort and strength that comes from this community, I felt called to give back. I am honored to now serve as a facilitator with Good Grief Rochester, walking alongside others who are navigating their own grief journeys. If sharing my story and being present for others can help even one person feel less alone in their grief, then this next chapter of my journey holds deep meaning.
PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR, 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 in training to become a certified grief coach under the supervision of Ms. Copie.
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!