Tag: Hospice of Santa Barbara

Hospice Of Santa Barbara welcomes new board member, Trenton Hammel

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SANTA BARBARA — Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB) is pleased to officially announce Trenton Hammel as a member of its Board of Directors. Trenton has been serving on the board since July 2025, contributing his expertise and leadership to advance HSB’s mission.

Trent Hammel is a local seasoned financial professional with over 20 years of experience serving families, foundations, and institutions in the Santa Barbara community. He currently serves as a Senior Wealth Strategist at Northern Trust, where he works with his clients to develop and coordinate personalized financial, philanthropic, and legacy strategies. His work is grounded in trust, collaboration, and a deep understanding of the values that guide long-term planning and generational wealth planning.

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Guest contribution — Valentine’s Day can be difficult for those missing a spouse or significant other

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SANTA BARBARA — Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love and a time to rededicate our affection for a spouse or partner with flowers, cards, chocolate, and a romantic dinner. But for those who are coping with the loss of a partner or loved one, Valentine’s Day can trigger overwhelming feelings of loneliness, grief, and isolation, with seasonal décor serving as a constant reminder of the loss.

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Join Hospice of Santa Barbara in celebrating 42nd Annual Light Up a Life ceremonies, honoring loved ones this holiday season (Dec. 6, 7, 13, 14)

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SANTA BARBARA — Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB) is honored to invite the community to its 42nd Annual Light Up a Life ceremonies. This cherished holiday tradition returns to offer a warm, uniting space for the communities of Goleta, Santa Barbara, Montecito, and Carpinteria to remember and honor the loved ones whose absence is felt during the holiday season. The ceremonies are free and open to the public.

While the holiday season is often associated with joy, it frequently stirs a complex mix of feelings. For individuals navigating this time while grieving a loss, the emotions can be especially raw. HSB understands that this period requires both remembrance and support, which is why we proudly host Light Up a Life annually to honor those who are deeply missed.

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Join Hospice of Santa Barbara in celebrating 42nd annual Light Up a Life ceremonies, honoring loved ones this holiday season

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SANTA BARBARA — Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB) is honored to invite the community to its 42nd Annual Light Up a Life ceremonies. This cherished holiday tradition returns to offer a warm, uniting space for the communities of Goleta, Santa Barbara, Montecito, and Carpinteria to remember and honor the loved ones whose absence is felt during the holiday season. The ceremonies are free and open to the public.

While the holiday season is often associated with joy, it frequently stirs a complex mix of feelings. For individuals navigating this time while grieving a loss, the emotions can be especially raw. HSB understands that this period requires both remembrance and support, which is why we proudly host Light Up a Life annually to honor those who are deeply missed.

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Every Bottle, Every visit, every order: Folded Hills donates 100% of Friday sales in September to Hospice of Santa Barbara

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SANTA BARBARA — Every Friday in September, Folded Hills Winery will match 100% of every purchase – whether it’s bottles of wine, visits to the tasting rooms, or orders from the online store—with a donation to Hospice of Santa Barbara. Through its Philanthropy Fridays initiative, made possible by the Kim and Andy Bush Family Foundation, Folded Hills shines a spotlight on local nonprofits and their amazing work. This month, wine lovers have the unique opportunity to raise a glass while supporting Hospice of Santa Barbara’s mission of providing compassionate care to those in need. 

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Heroes of Hospice of SB luncheon to Sshowcase unique and valuable artwork for auction

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SANTA BARBARA — Hospice of Santa Barbara’s 13th annual Heroes of Hospice luncheon will include a silent art auction, thanks to the generous donation by Suzanne Grimmesey and Edwin Feliciano of three giclée prints by Armenian artist Gevorg Yeghiazaryan. While bids are only available online at https://paybee.io/@hospiceofsb@23, the prints will be on display at this year’s event. Each is valued at as much as $2,000 or higher.

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Hospice of Santa Barbara Announces Donation from the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians

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SANTA BARBARA — The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians has made a generous donation of $15,000 to Hospice of Santa Barbara, supporting ongoing patient care services for approximately 800 people annually in the Santa Barbara community. Patient care services encompass medical care management, volunteer support, anticipatory grief counseling, spiritual care, bereavement care management, and quality of life stipends.

“Hospice of Santa Barbara fills a critical need in the community, providing vital care and services to patients and their families,” said Kenneth Kahn, Tribal Chairman for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. “Our tribe is proud to support their efforts,” Kahm also shared.

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Guest commentary — Hospice of Santa Barbara — Missing Mom on Mother’s Day

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SANTA BARBARA — The annual celebration of Mother’s Day is meant to be a commemoration of the nurturing nature of mothers. The day is often filled with family get-togethers, luncheons, flowers and handmade gifts and cards. 

For others, however, Mother’s Day can be a bittersweet reminder for those who have lost their mothers and mothers who have lost a child, turning a joyful holiday into one filled with pain and grief. 

Suzanne Grimmesey of Santa Barbara knows this all too well as this will be the second Mother’s Day without her mother Elaine. 

“My mom passed away a little over a year and it has been a time of growth and learning about my own identity in the world without her,” said Grimmesey.  “Who am I without my mom?  I’ve been a daughter my entire life and now, without either of my parents, am I still a daughter? I know I am, but It feels different now.”

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Children and Family Bereavement Needs on the Rise at Hospice of Santa Barbara

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SANTA BARBARA — It’s not just adults who are impacted by grief and loss in our community. Children are as well. One in five children will experience the death of someone close to them by age 18, and one in twenty children will experience the death of one or both parents before reaching adulthood. Although death and grief are inevitable parts of life, these statistics highlight just how many children are impacted. Children are especially vulnerable when they lose a close loved one, and without professional support, grief can be especially paralyzing and overwhelming.

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Hospice of Santa Barbara less than $110,000 away from reaching $1 Million Legacy of Compassion Campaign goal

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SANTA BARBARA — Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB) is less than $110,000 away from meeting its $1 million goal for the Legacy of Compassion Campaign, which launched in celebration of the organization’s 50th anniversary. The campaign aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of HSB’s free compassionate care services, helping to meet the current demand and build a stronger foundation for the future.

Funds raised from this campaign will go toward reducing the counseling waitlist for grieving adults, expanding HSB’s presence in schools to support all children experiencing grief, assisting patients in navigating the medical system, developing new services to reach more families, and preparing for the rising wave of need in the years ahead.

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Hospice of Santa Barbara — A Mother’s Grief on Mother’s Day

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SANTA BARBARA — The annual celebration of Mother’s Day is meant to be a commemoration of the nurturing nature of women mothers. The day is often filled with family get-togethers, luncheons, flowers and handmade gifts and cards. Women can look up from their daily grind and enjoy the recognition they so greatly deserve. 

In grief, attention is often given to those who are missing their mothers who have died. 

For many, Mother’s Day can be a bittersweet reminder for mothers who have lost a child, turning a joyful holiday into one filled with pain and grief. 

Unfortunately, there is no panacea for grief, though time and distance can eventually bring some peace and perspective. However, some of those who have walked the path of grief before have discovered ways of coping with their grief by focusing on the good times and honoring their loved ones in symbolic ways. 

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Hospice of Santa Barbara Offers Insights into Family Grieving

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SANTA BARBARA — Grieving the loss of a family member is a deeply intricate emotional journey. Shared bonds and histories make family grief especially unique. Family grief extends beyond the individual and intertwines with the collective fabric of shared experiences, roles and responsibilities.

Grieving the loss of a family member is a complex and challenging process that can be difficult for various reasons. The loss disrupts the balance within the family. This can cause relationships and dynamics to change because there is someone missing and there is a role that is unfulfilled. 

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Hospice of Santa Barbara Shares Tips — Coping with Valentine’s Day after the Loss of a Romantic Partner

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SANTA BARBARA — It is the time of year for pink and red balloons, heart-shaped candies and chocolates, stuffed animals, and bouquets of roses. It is a day meant to celebrate loving someone and being loved. However, for those grieving a lost loved one, holidays such as Valentine’s Day may bring up difficult emotions and memories of a romantic partner who has passed away. 

Whether it is the first Valentine’s Day without your loved one, or several years without them, it is natural to miss them during this holiday.  A variety of emotions may surface and that is okay. It is natural to feel overwhelmed, lost, confused, angry, guilty, and sad.  

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Hospice of Santa Barbara shares Important Insights about those who have lost a loved one to suicide

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SANTA BARBARA — Suicide is a leading cause of death among young people in the United States and approximately 1 million people die by suicide globally each year. 

Suicide is one of the top ten leading causes of death across all age groups. Worldwide, suicide ranks among the three leading causes of death among adolescents and young adults. 

Losing a loved to suicide is one of life’s most painful experiences. The feelings of loss, sadness, and loneliness experienced after any death of a loved one are often magnified in suicide survivors by feelings of guilt, confusion, rejection, shame, anger, and the effects of stigma and trauma.  

Furthermore, survivors of suicide loss are at higher risk of developing major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal behaviors, and a prolonged form of grief called complicated grief. Thus, survivors may require unique supportive measures and targeted treatment to cope with their loss. 

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Hospice of Santa Barbara Shares Ways to Navigate Valentine’s Day for Those Who Have Lost a Romantic Partner

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It is the time of year for pink and red balloons, heart-shaped candies and chocolates, stuffed animals, and bouquets of roses. It is a day meant to celebrate loving someone and being loved. However, for those grieving a lost loved one, holidays such as Valentine’s Day may bring up difficult emotions and memories of a romantic partner who has passed away. 

Whether it is the first Valentine’s Day without your loved one, or several years without them, it is natural to miss them during this holiday.  A variety of emotions may surface and that is okay. It is natural to feel overwhelmed, lost, confused, angry, guilty, and sad.  

Hospice of Santa Barbara understands navigating a holiday centered on love and unity can be especially difficult for those who are grieving. The following tips can help you cope with the loss of your special someone.

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Hospice Of Santa Barbara Welcomes Lori Lewis to Board of Directors

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Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB) welcomes Lori Lewis to its Board of Directors.

Lori’s law practice, Mullen & Henzel L.L.P., is concentrated in the areas of estate planning and incapacity, advising clients on matters involving powers of attorney, conservatorships, advanced health directives, wills and trusts. She also handles legal matters that involve the high emotional intensity of family conflict.

She works closely with individuals and their professionals, such as income tax preparers, medical caregivers and investment advisors in giving advice and preparing customized incapacity and estate planning documents. 

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Hospice of Santa Barbara celebrates Shining Light Society supporters

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This Spring reception at the Hilton Santa Barbara, Beachfront Resort in the “Plaza del Sol” was held on Thursday, May 12 in special appreciation and recognition of the generous supporters of Hospice of Santa Barbara and to celebrate gathering in-person for the first time in over two years.

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Jan. 26 — ‘Coffee With A Black Guy’ presents ‘Processing Loss: A conversation on mental health and the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 deaths on BIPOC communities’

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“Coffee With A Black Guy” presents “Processing Loss: A conversation on mental health and the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 deaths on BIPOC communities” via Zoom at 7 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26.

CWABG founder James Joyce III, will be joined in conversation by Michael Cruse, Bereavement Services Manager for Hospice of Santa Barbara who will offer a “Human” perspective and the role of “Culture” on the subject of bereavement and mourning.  That couple with the impacts of several highly visible cultural losses and the processing of loss throughout our history – think Strange Fruit, provides context for an engaging and enlightening conversation about processing loss and grief. 

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Hospice of Santa Barbara Brings McDonalds, iPads and Games to Elderly at Casa Naomi

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Since the start of COVID-19, with prolonged closures of businesses and isolation of senior care facilities, Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB) has done outreach within the Santa Barbara community and discovered a shortage of support at Casa Naomi – a residential care facility with four homes in Santa Barbara serving developmentally delayed seniors.

Since the residents have been quarantined with the rest of the world since March, they have been in need of mental stimulation and emotional support. Jeanne M. West, HSB Community Engagement Manager saw an opportunity to help.  

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‘Cultivating Resilience In Loss and Grief’ Part of Hospice of Santa Barbara’s ‘Coping with COVID-19’ Information Series

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In response to the growing need for emotional and practical support related to COVID-19 in the Greater Santa Barbara area, HSB now offers a comprehensive resource page called “Coping With COVID-19.” It includes videos and articles by our Community Education staff of dedicated experts, therapists and clergy. Topics include relevant issues we are all facing during the global pandemic. The Coping with COVID-19 Series is comprised of fresh original content. It addresses the many emotional and practical day-to-day challenges coronavirus is having on all of us including schedules, finances, the lives of our children and family, our plans our control over situations.

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Hospice of Santa Barbara Takes Part in Delivering 120 Lunches to Local Seniors

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As a way to give back to our community in this time of need, Shalhoob’s and Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB) delivered 120 meals from Shalhoob’s to the senior living complex Village Santa Fe Apartments, a Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara property. Hospice of Santa Barbara provided 12 volunteers who helped pack and deliver the meals donated by Shalhoob’s. 

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Hospice of Santa Barbara and Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care Work Together to Make Sure that ‘No One Dies Alone’

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SANTA BARBARA — In a unique collaboration between Hospice of Santa Barbara and Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care, the No One Dies Alone (NODA) program helps ensure that those who are dying in our community, with no family or friends…

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Hospice of Santa Barbara Hosts Art Reception for Architectural Paintings by Tom Kress

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SANTA BARBARA — Tom Kress’s career as an artist and building designer has taken him around the world, working on architectural design projects including the Santa Barbara Airport, the Transamerica Building, and even the White House. On Tuesday, April 30th,…

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Author and Buddhist Teacher Roshi Joan Halifax Draws Capacity Crowd for Talk on Life and Death

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SANTA BARBARA — On Wednesday, February 27th, Roshi Joan Halifax, a renowned Buddhist teacher, author, Zen priest, and anthropologist, talked about her perspectives on death and dying before a packed house at the Marjorie Luke Theatre in Santa Barbara. “Courage,…

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Hospice of Santa Barbara and Create Global Healing Selected As Grantees For New York Life And Alliance For Strong Families And Communities “Building Resilience In The Face Of Disaster” Program

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SANTA BARBARA — Recognizing the need for long-term local assistance for those who have experienced a natural disaster or act of mass violence, New York Life and the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities today announced the selection of Santa…

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Hospice of Santa Barbara Welcomes New Community Engagement Manager and Patient Care Services Outreach Coordinator

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SANTA BARBARA — Hospice of Santa Barbara is pleased to welcome Jeanne West as its new Community Engagement Manager and Adriana Marroquin as Patient Care Services Outreach Coordinator. Jeanne West has nearly 50 years’ experience in the healthcare industry and…

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Hospice of Santa Barbara Hosts Compassionate Care of Carpinteria Community Breakfast

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SANTA BARBARA — Hospice of Santa Barbara recently had the privilege of inviting its supporters and community members to its Compassionate Care of Carpinteria (CCC) Community Breakfast on April 26. Compassionate Care of Carpinteria is a new program that offers…

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Hospice of Santa Barbara Receives Grief Reach Grant From the New York Life Foundation

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SANTA BARBARA — Hospice of Santa Barbara announced today a $15,000 Grief Reach grant from the New York Life Foundation to support their Youth Bereavement Outreach Program, which provides on-campus counseling to secondary school students dealing with overwhelming feelings of…

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Services Available to Those Grieving a Loved One or Struggling with Life-Threatening Illness at Compassionate Care of Carpinteria

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CARPINTERIA — For more than 40 years, Hospice of Santa Barbara has been privileged to support individuals in our community who are struggling with life-threatening illness or coping with the loss of a loved one. More recently, Hospice of Santa Barbara…

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Hospice of Santa Barbara Light Up A Life Ceremony in Carpinteria Rescheduled to Dec. 16 Due to Thomas Fire

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SANTA BARBARA — Hospice of Santa Barbara looks forward to joining the community to celebrate and honor the lives of their loved ones at its annual Light Up A Life ceremony in Carpinteria. However due to the effects of the…

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Tips for Coping with the Loss of a Loved One

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SANTA BARBARA — The holidays are officially in full swing, and it’s an exciting time to be thinking about all the wonderful memories we’ll be making with our close friends and family members. But perhaps this year, you feel an…

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‘Round Up’ Fundraiser at Home Improvement Center Raises Funds for Hospice of Santa Barbara

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SANTA BARBARA — As Thanksgiving approaches, Hospice of Santa Barbara has much in which to be grateful. The nonprofit is especially thankful for those who participated in a recent ‘Round Up’ campaign, which raised funds for the many invaluable programs…

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Hospice of Santa Barbara Offers Tips on Talking to Children about Tragedies like the Las Vegas Mass Shooting

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SANTA BARBARA — In the wake of the Las Vegas mass shooting on Sunday night, Hospice of Santa Barbara believes that the most important service they could provide locally is to provide guidance about how parents and teachers can speak to…

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Heroes in our Community Celebrated at Heroes of Hospice of Santa Barbara Luncheon at the Four Seasons Biltmore, Coral Casino

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SANTA BARBARA — Hospice of Santa Barbara is proud and privileged to celebrate the 2017 Heroes of Hospice of Santa Barbara “Jewels by the Sea” at the Four Seasons Biltmore, Coral Casino. This year, the organization will honor the Flower…

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‘Round Up’ Your Purchases through Sept. 10 to Support Hospice of Santa Barbara

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SANTA BARBARA — Whether your latest renovation project involves giving your living space new flooring, plumbing facilities or just a simple paint job, your home improvement purchases can help benefit significant programs in your community. Through Sept. 10, shoppers can…

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Hospice of Santa Barbara Applauds Prince Harry, Sheryl Sandberg, others for Sharing Their Stories of Loss and Grief

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SANTA BARBARA — Prince Harry was at the vulnerable age of 12 when he lost his beloved mother, Princess Diana, in a car accident. Prince Harry recently admitted to “hiding his head in the sand,” refusing to allow himself to think…

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Hospice of Santa Barbara Supports Emotional Health of Local First Responders, Care Professionals

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SANTA BARBARA — No one is more exposed to the brutality and sadness of death and dying than first responders and other care professionals whose daily work involves the sick, dying and bereaved. The repeated exposure to trauma combined with a…

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Hospice of Santa Barbara Extends Bereavement Support in Wake of Orlando Shooting

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SANTA BARBARA — Hospice of Santa Barbara is deeply saddened by the nightclub shooting in Orlando and extends it heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the victims, their families and members of the LGBT community impacted by this senseless tragedy. “It’s…

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HSB and Santa Ynez Valley Union High School Partner for Student Bereavement

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SANTA YNEZ — Hospice of Santa Barbara is partnering with Santa Ynez Valley Union High School to provide group and individual bereavement counseling free of charge to students on campus during school hours. Through this new partnership, school counselors will…

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