Somebody Lean On

Widowed Persons Service offers grief sessions and fellowship at regular activities throughout area

by John English Hoopla Correspondent

Alfred Lord Tennyson once wrote, “If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk in my garden forever.”

For many widows and widowers, this sentiment reflects a bitter personal reality that can be difficult to overcome without the support of others who understand their circumstances because they have experienced them first hand.

That is where the Widowed Persons Service of Tarrant County steps in.

Formed in 1973 in association with AARP, the Widowed Persons Service of Tarrant County’s primary objective is to reach the widowed to more effectively adjust to the loss of a spouse.

WPS member Ann Barnes said that the organization strives to provide recently-widowed men and women with an opportunity for fellowship and understanding.

“I’ve been a widow for seven years, and I’m deeply involved in it,” Barnes said. “We try to do all that we can to help other people, and I think it would be a great idea if we could all help each other.”

Barnes, 79, who lost her beloved husband Dan after 53 years of marriage in 2016, said that the organization has been a huge help to her in navigating her own per- sonal loss.

“This has been such a great help to me, because you don’t really lose your grief,” Anne said. “You still have grief in your heart. But you see that other people are going through this same thing, and once you get on board, you realize how much it helps.”

Originally from Clarksville, Texas, Barnes has lived in Burleson for the last 40 years where she said that many of the activities the organization hosts are based.

Such activities include weekly breakfasts, games, cruises, bowling, and dances among others.

“We don’t want to make any money,” Barnes said. “We just want to pay our bills and be there for everyone.”

The WPS of Tarrant County is a 501(c) and depends entirely on community and volunteer support.

According to its web site, www.wpstc. org, the organization conducts grief support sessions throughout the area. The meetings are led by trained facilitators, and break-out sessions are led by volun- teers who listen and visit with individuals. The group also meets regularly for breakfast, lunch and dinner gatherings throughout the area.

Widowed Persons Service of Tarrant County was hit hard by the pandemic, losing a sizeable portion of its membership, and the organization welcomes anyone of any age or background who has suffered the loss of a spouse to join.

Barnes said that she was initially reluctant to join the WPS because she was not sure she would fit in.

Now she believes it is one of the best decisions of her life.

“I had a friend, Betty, that just kept after me,” Barnes said. “I didn’t want to do it for the longest time and then finally I went to my first meeting, which was at Our Place restaurant in Burleson. I didn’t enjoy it at all...but the next time I went, I ate in a different area with very nice people and then I just kept coming back. I believe in this. I believe in what we do. I really do.”

People can join by simply attending one of the weekly breakfasts and the group will help them from there.

Barnes said she understands that people can be reticent to join at such a difficult time in their lives and added that members understand.

“I’ve had a lady at the gym that I’ve told about it, and she has said she is thinking about joining,” Barnes said. “And that’s all you can do. Some people are not at that point yet. All you can do is be sympathetic and let them know that if they change their mind and decide to join, there is a place here for them.”

Members of Widowed Persons Services of Tarrant County meet for meals and dances all over the area, even outside of Tarrant County.

Visit the organization’s web site, www. wpstc.org, for more information. You can also reach them at 817-551-2922. They’re open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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