Self-help group for orphaned parents and siblings Oberland

Created: 06/29/2022, 16:06

By: Stephanie Novy

The Oberland self-help group for orphaned parents and siblings meets every third Monday of the month.

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Weilheim/Region - The loss of a loved one is difficult to cope with.

If your child dies, it's even more difficult.

The Oberland self-help group for orphaned parents and siblings helps those affected to deal with this painful situation. 

The group, which now also includes the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, was founded in Weilheim-Schongau at the end of 1995 by Annick Neumeister.

She has been headed by Sylvia Maurer since early 2016.

A little later, Andrea Strobel joined as manager.

Both women are victims themselves.

Maurer emphasizes that it is an uncomfortable topic in society to talk about the death of a child.

But in the group you can reveal all feelings, be it anger, rage, sadness or happiness.

It is a protected space that gives the opportunity to continue talking about the loved one who has passed away and without judgement.

"It's important that parents get out of this pit and don't get stuck," says Maurer, explaining the goal of the self-help group.

She herself was initially skeptical after the death of her son.

"At first you feel like it's heartbreaking and you don't know what to do about it," she says.

"I thought at the time that it wouldn't bring my son back to me either."

But she quickly realized that she could not cope with this grief alone and found herself in the group.

Strobel also lost her son.

It was then that she realized that everyone grieves differently.

"For me, talking was the right thing to do," she explains.

sadness and happiness

Gabi K., a group participant, also knows what such a loss feels like.

Her son suffered from a mental illness and committed suicide as a result.

After a period of time, you are expected to move on.

But that's not so easy, explains Gabi K. That's why she appreciates the like-minded people in the group.

"Everyone understands you because you go through the same thing and without much explanation".

The wound is always there, but at some point a process, a further development, sets in.

You learn to deal with it and "see that things are going on and that life can go on well," says Gabi K. Where there used to be only sorrow, she now also experiences happiness: the happiness of having her son and the experiences with him.

"Now and then the pain comes back in waves,

But not only those affected who associate such special days with their children are in good hands in the group.

It is also open to parents of star children, women who have had an abortion or siblings and grandparents of the deceased.

When new participants join the group, there is first a round of introductions.

Then there is an exchange.

The topics of conversation are wide-ranging.

But everyone is always given the opportunity to reveal their grief.

“Every meeting is different.

But each has something comforting,” summarizes Gabi K..

The group meets every third Monday of the month.

Anyone who would like to take part can contact Sylvia Maurer on Tel. 0174/9696450 or Andrea Strobel on Tel. 0176/44612301.

Primi Passi offers acute care for relatives.

They look after you immediately after the stroke of fate and support you with further steps.

Primi Passi can be reached on Tel. 0175/4206014.

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