The merger of Voices of Grief Support and Education Center with Pikes Peak Hospice and Palliative Care in Colorado Springs has roots in Woodland Park.

For Kathy Sparnins, founder and executive director of Voices of Grief, the merger charts a new path for her as well as the nonprofit organization.

In addition to offering grief support over the past two decades in Woodland Park, Sparnins’ produced the award-winning documentary, “Voices of Grief, Honoring the Sacred Journey,” which premiered in March 2016 at Colorado College.

“By walking with people in grief I was aware of how people suffer a loss – they would tell me their love story and then apologize for crying,” she said. “I realized the documentary could be a way to help people understand how to deepen their empathy around grief. Culturally, the message is somewhat shaming – ‘get over it, move on.’”

The merger with Pikes Peak Hospice & Palliative Care seemed like a natural fit, as the hospice organization sponsored many of the events hosted by Voices of Grief.  

“One day I realized that we needed a partner,” Sparnins said.

Conversations with Dawn Darvalics, the organization’s president, led to the merger.

“Dawn is wonderful and has great insights,” Sparnins said. “We feel honored that they see value in the work, the vision and the mission we have accomplished in Woodland Park and Colorado Springs.”

Sparnins, a grief counselor, started her work after suffering her own trauma with the suicide of her father and the death of her 16-year-old sister in a car accident.

“In working on your own behalf, you can them turn around and be able to give back,” she said.

Years later, she worked with the nationally known Alan Wolfelt to earn certification in grief counseling.

While Sparnins continued her work in Woodland Park, she expanded the support services to Colorado Springs and initiated a second nonprofit, Voices of Grief Support and Education Center.

The center stems from a study by graduate students at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs to assess the need for grief support.

“We found there was a great need, but people didn’t know to get help,” Sparnins said. “So, we felt empowered to keep going.”

The merger is a way to broaden the services of Voices of Grief to include hospice patients as well as others.

“We are doing groups all over the communities and we will continue that,” she said. “We have volunteers who are either at the master’s or doctorate level.

“They have a heart for the work. We need more volunteers.”

With the merger, Voices of Grief program manager, Sarah Lee, will work full time for Pikes Peak Hospice & Palliative Care.  

“We are honored to carry forward the work of Voices of Grief; grief support is an essential part of caring for our community,” said Darvalics in a press release.

The merger is expected to be finalized this month.