FORT WAYNE, Ind. — A quiet but powerful force in northeast Indiana marked a major milestone this month. The Peggy F. Murphy Community Grief Center, a beacon for those navigating the loss of a loved one, is celebrating 10 years of service to the Fort Wayne community.

Since opening its doors in 2015, the center has become a critical resource for individuals and families facing the aftermath of death. In a decade of operations, the grief center has provided over 16,000 individual counseling sessions, along with a wide variety of holistic support services including group programs, yoga, art therapy, outdoor hikes, and bereavement retreats.

The best part, many say, is that it’s all offered at no charge.

“We love being able to walk alongside people as they’re going through the unimaginable,” said Laura Guerrero, bereavement coordinator at the center. “Each person’s grief is unique. We meet them exactly where they are, without judgment or expectations.”

A Mission Rooted in Compassion and Community

The center was named in honor of Peggy F. Murphy, a former hospice nurse and tireless advocate for end-of-life care who died in 2012. Her commitment to compassionate service laid the foundation for what would become one of the region’s most respected grief support institutions.

Run by Stillwater Hospice, the grief center was built with a singular goal: to provide accessible, professional, and personal grief counseling to any adult in the community who needs it, regardless of financial circumstance.

Grief support often falls outside of insurance coverage or traditional mental health care models, leaving many without critical resources. The Peggy F. Murphy Center seeks to bridge that gap.

“Peggy believed that grief doesn’t follow a schedule or a formula,” said Sarah Wolfe, executive director of Stillwater Hospice. “She knew people needed a place to go where they wouldn’t feel alone in their pain. This center is her legacy — a continuation of her life’s work.”

Beyond Talk Therapy: Nature, Art, and Movement

What makes the Peggy F. Murphy Center stand out in the landscape of grief services is its integrative, whole-person approach. While traditional counseling forms the backbone of its work, the center offers programs designed to tap into healing through non-verbal expression and physical movement.

• Yoga for grief allows participants to use breath and body awareness to process emotion.

• Art therapy helps people externalize complex feelings when words are not enough.

• Nature walks and hikes bring people into calm, open spaces, reducing stress and promoting introspection.

• Retreats and workshops provide extended time away from daily life to process grief in a focused, supported environment.

“Grief isn’t just an emotional experience. It’s physical, mental, and even spiritual,” said Guerrero. “So our programs reflect that.”

A Decade of Growth — And Growing Demand

The numbers tell a clear story: grief doesn’t go away, and demand for support is increasing.

In 2015, the center hosted fewer than 500 individual sessions. In 2024, that number surged past 2,100. The COVID-19 pandemic, the opioid crisis, and rising rates of mental health struggles have created a ripple effect — more people are grieving, and often under more complicated circumstances.

“It’s not just elderly family members passing anymore,” said Wolfe. “It’s children, overdoses, suicides, sudden accidents — people are reeling from unexpected, traumatic losses, and they need professional help to navigate it.”

To meet that demand, the center has expanded its team of licensed counselors, added new group programming, and increased outreach to underserved populations. Stillwater Hospice has also built partnerships with local hospitals, funeral homes, schools, and faith organizations to ensure that anyone in need can be referred promptly.

Free Services, Community Backing

One of the defining aspects of the grief center is that its services are free, a rare model in the mental health care landscape.

This is made possible through philanthropic donations, grant funding, and community partnerships. Organizations across Allen County have contributed to keeping the center’s doors open — and keeping its mission aligned with accessibility and dignity for all.

Fundraising events, such as the annual “Walk to Remember” and seasonal galas, play a major role. Individual donors, touched by the support they or their loved ones have received, also contribute regularly.

“We’ve been incredibly fortunate to have a community that believes in this work,” said Wolfe. “It’s not easy to talk about grief. But our donors understand that silence doesn’t help anyone heal.”

Looking Ahead: Expanding Grief Literacy

As it enters its second decade, the Peggy F. Murphy Community Grief Center is focused on not just offering services, but building a culture of grief literacy — encouraging schools, employers, and civic institutions to recognize the importance of grief support.

Plans are underway to expand youth grief education, create online resource hubs, and train local leaders on how to support grieving employees, students, or parishioners.

“Grief isn’t a problem to be solved — it’s a reality to be supported,” said Guerrero. “And the more we understand that as a society, the healthier we’ll all be.”