EricsHouse Volunteers

Carolyn Van Ness is deeply committed to engaging fully in the wondrous, mysterious unfolding of life and death. As a Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner for 30 years, her focus was on helping expand her clients understanding of “health” by using holistic practices to achieve optimal physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

More recently, after studying at the Zen Center for Contemplative Care and completing the Henry Fersko-Weiss Death Doula training, Carolyn became a Hospice “friendly visitor,” developed a “Widow to Widow” companion program and participates as a Death Café group facilitator for Circle of Friends for the Dying Hudson Valley.

As a parent who lost a son to suicide, she believes being able to be present with someone who shares a similar loss is one of the most important aspects of the healing journey through grief and mourning.

Charlotte has been participating in prior groups organized and facilitated by EricsHouse. She tragically lost her oldest son to complications from his use of heroin in 2016. She is leading a support group as a Grief Companion because she wants to honor Brady and give meaning and a positive outcome to losing him to this disease. She aims to support others on their grief journey and share her experience.

Joette resides in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. She has 2 daughters, a son in law, a beautiful granddaughter and two fur babies Charlie and Max! Joette joined EricsHouse two years ago and has attended groups after the loss of her daughter Sydney on Nov 29, 2020 to a drug overdose at the age of 30. This year she has joined EricsHouse as a co-facilitator and is training to become a grief companion.

Joette works as a full time Realtor and wants to give her support to others grieving the loss of a loved one in group sessions. It is her desire to give back to the organization that helped her, with her compassion and understanding of the journey we walk together.

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Matthew came to EricsHouse as a client after the loss of his son, Jacob, to suicide in 2021. He now facilitates support groups and welcomes new members. As a retiree of the US Armed Forces, Matthew understands the challenges men often face in processing grief. However, through peer support and the hard work of mourning, he has successfully found renewed meaning and purpose in life, a journey he now helps others navigate. He is a Certified Grief Companion through the Center for Loss & Life Transition.

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April has served as a hospital, hospice and congregation chaplain for more than 30 years and currently serves as Campus Minister for the Arizona State University Polytechnic Campus. Certified as a Spiritual Companion in 1999, she has more recently continued her studies at the Chaplaincy Institute in Berkeley, California.