Hidden Gems: Meet Maura Del Rosario of Joel’s Place for Children

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maura Del Rosario.

Hi Maura, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
At just 8 years old, my mom died.

I say this swiftly, almost casually, and often, because it’s part of my story. But behind those few words, lives a vast emptiness. A deep, nothingness that echoes farther than I could ever describe or a mind can imagine.

There’s a particular kind of loss that comes from losing a parent as a child – one that leaves parts of you undone. I walked through decades of my life feeling like everyone noticed the gaping hole, or that I was never quite steady on my feet. My siblings and I carried it differently, but we all carried it. Most of the time, they definitely appeared as though they were doing it better.

I realized quickly the rules around when it was and wasn’t okay to express my feelings around the death of my mom. Trying to follow the unspoken rules caused far more pain than when I had moments of being able to just let it out.

I didn’t want other children worrying about the permission to grieve or talk about their loved ones. So I went searching for a way to help other children find comfort after a death. This search led me to Joel’s Place for Children and Becky McDermott the Executive Director at the time. She is incredibly passionate about their mission and her enthusiasm and kindness was palpable – even through the phone! They offer FREE peer-based grief support for school aged children and their families who have experienced the death of someone close.

Now that I have my own children, my mother, Grandma fan (as my littlest has lovingly calls her) has become part of our daily conversations. We talk about songs that she liked, things she cooked, what made her laugh and cry, and things they do that remind me of her. I’ve realized grieving doesn’t have to mean closing the door on the person you love. It means loving them even without them by physically your side.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
A common phrase used to describe the experience after a death of someone close is that “grief is not linear”. As much as we have been told that there are stages of grief, there are emotions many of us go through, but there is not an order or timeline or “right” way to process loss.

Grief can sneak up on you in the smallest of moments – seemingly innocent ones – and sometimes can cause guilt when it doesn’t show up in extremely meaningful times in your life.

For instance, a lot of what children deal with when they are dealing with the loss of someone they cared about is actually the things they will now miss with that person. The graduations, dances, weddings, etc. And when those go by and a child wasn’t thinking about their person or missing them, it can cause a whole new spiral of grief. However, walking by someone who had a cologne on that your grandpa used to wear can make a child fall to their knees.

I like to think that we are never the same as we once were with that person, I am a different and forever changed version of myself, but I am constantly and forever adjusting and growing around that reality. There are times it is much more challenging than others – like becoming a mother myself.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Joel’s Place for Children is a non-profit organization in Bay Village that offers FREE peer based grief support groups for children and their families who have experienced the death of someone close. Throughout the school year we hold bi-weekly groups that start with a free community dinner, then we separate into age appropriate confidential groups to do themed activities and sharing about our grief and the person we miss. Our biggest effort is to ensure no child grieves alone.

While this is already an incredible undertaking, enormous responsibility and absolute honor – it is so much more than just one short paragraph. We provide a nondenominational, zero cost, ongoing and open enrollment resource that allows these children a safe space to discuss big feelings with kids their age who understand (in part) what they are going through.

– This is a long term preventative measure for children who are statistically more likely to self-harm, engage in dangerous behaviors, and abuse substances.
– This is a FREE dinner and evening activity for exhausted caregivers with children who are going through some of the most difficult times of their lives.
– This is a place where other people just get it.

Every summer, we host a Butterfly Release at Cahoon Park for anyone who has lost a loved one, whether they are in our program or not. People can choose to share the name of the person they are grieving or just allow their butterfly to be free into the beautiful day but this is an event all are welcome – and bystanders can enjoy too.

Nearly 23 years later, our programming runs solely on the generous donations of our community – including our free space donated by Bay Presbyterian Church and many individuals who understand the need for our services. We also have incredible, committed volunteers who deeply care about the families who rely on us.

If you are moved by our organization’s mission please do not hesitate to donate here: https://joelsplaceforchildren.org/donate/general/

Or join us with your time, by contacting us here: https://joelsplaceforchildren.org/contact/

Pricing:

• Free

Contact Info:

• Website: https://joelsplaceforchildren.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joelsplaceforchildren/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joelsplaceforchildren
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/joel-s-place-for-children
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCSgu6uax-1Z7eqftwiBTEQ
• Other: https://joelsplaceforchildren.org/contact/