Donate
Jump to content
Jump to content

Bereavement counselling & support

Grief does not begin with the loss of a child. It accompanies families from the moment of diagnosis. At Sternenbrücke, we want to give all relatives the space and time to express their own feelings. We make sure that there is no judgement. Every form of grief is unique and has its place.

Bereavement counselling Support after loss

Bereavement counselling

When a child, teenager or young adult is seriously ill, it changes the whole life of a family. Grief and feelings of fear and worry become constant companions.

A small toy sailboat with a colorful cup and a fabric sail floats on a reflective green water surface.

Supporting families with empathy

At Sternenbrücke, we do not leave families alone on this journey. We give our time, listen, create rituals and provide support for as long as it is needed. This creates a safe space in which grief can be experienced, memories preserved and new strength found.

Recurring Offers

A woman wearing glasses and a striped shirt sculpts a large, abstract stone piece in a bright room with a window in the background.

Stone workshop

In kreativen Momenten gestalten Kinder und Eltern Erinnerungssteine und finden dabei einen persönlichen Ausdruck ihrer Trauer.
Person writing on a blue paper with a pencil, wearing a blue sweater and a striped shirt, seated at a wooden table.

Writing workshop

Texts, letters or poems help to put feelings into words and keep memories alive.
An elderly person with short hair sits on a sofa, wearing a light blue top and orange pants, looking attentively. A window is in the background.

Offers of personal consultations

Individual conversations with our grief counsellors provide space for personal questions and feelings.
Child in a winter jacket and owl hat creates a clay face on a tree trunk in a forest with autumn leaves.

Rainbow Club

A safe place for siblings to talk to their peers about fears, grief and hope.
A lit candle on a wooden table surrounded by framed photos, decorative items, and soft lighting, creating a warm, cozy atmosphere.

Community cafés

Monthly meetings for parents and relatives, as well as an annual café for grandparents, provide opportunities for exchange and community.
People playing tug-of-war on a sunny day by a waterfront, casting long shadows on the ground.

Adventure days

Shared days for orphaned siblings – with games, conversations and experiences that strengthen and connect them.
A group of people outdoors, one man holding a paper against a tree, others observing closely. Trees and grass in the background.

Meeting weekend

Twice a year, bereaved families meet to remember their star children and to support each other.
Two women warmly embrace; one holds a bouquet of flowers. A third person stands nearby, smiling.

Remembrance Day

A special day of the year when we commemorate all star children – with rituals, music and shared solidarity.

Support after loss

When a young person who has been ill has passed away, we are particularly close to the families. During the days when the young person is laid out, we offer various rituals that can provide support during these painful moments.

Two people kneel in a garden, surrounded by plants and small decorative elements, including colorful pinwheels and framed photos.

Conversations and encounters

Even after the loss of their beloved child, families remain connected to Sternenbrücke. Various discussion groups for relatives and loved ones, led by our grief counsellors, provide an opportunity to keep the memory of the ‘star child’ alive, to exchange experiences and thoughts, to reflect and to encourage each other to continue on their personal path of grief.

Meeting weekend

Siblings' Day

Social café

Remembrance Day

Remembrance visits in our new building

Offers of personal consultations

Active grief work and rituals

Coffin painting

Shaping memories in the stone workshop

Blessing Circle and final blessing

Outdoor gathering under a canopy in a forested area, with people seated on benches, surrounded by lush greenery and dappled sunlight.

Remembrance Day

Once a year, we invite all families to a ‘Day of Remembrance’. The Garden of Remembrance is festively decorated for the occasion – a ribbon with hearts encircles it. In a prayer service, we call out the names of all the children, light candles and send letters up to the heavens together. It is a particularly moving moment for the siblings when the letters are burned and their words symbolically ascend to the star children. Afterwards, there is time for lunch together, conversations and quiet remembrance.

Garden of Remembrance

Since 2005, the Garden of Remembrance has provided families with a special place to be close to their star children. For every guest who has passed away at Sternenbrücke, an individual lamp with their name shines there.
Lush garden with winding paths, vibrant flowers, a statue, and a black fence, surrounded by dense greenery and blooming bushes.

Garden of Remembrance and extension

To ensure that all children will continue to find their place here in the future, the garden was expanded in 2015. The new area is a second, identically designed garden that, together with the original garden, forms the shape of an infinity symbol – a powerful symbol of the lasting connection between the children and their families.
Angel statue with a child, surrounded by vibrant pink flowers and lush greenery in a peaceful garden setting.

Angel statue

In the centre of the garden, a large sandstone angel watches over the small lights. It symbolises protection, love and security. Many relatives find it a comforting figure that provides a dignified setting for their memories and makes them feel close to their child.
Stone sculpture adorned with carved stars, set in a garden with blurred greenery and pathways in the background.

Lanterns and bronze stars

Every child who has passed away at Sternenbrücke receives their own lantern with their name engraved on it. These lights stand together in the garden and lovingly welcome each new light into their midst. Children who were guests at Sternenbrücke but did not pass away here are honoured with a bronze star bearing their name on the memorial stone. In this way, every guest remains part of the Sternenbrücke family.

Community can help

Grief changes lives, but it does not have to be borne alone. Sternenbrücke creates spaces for encounter where families learn that they are not alone.

With professional and individual support, we provide inspiration to discover one's own resources and encourage people to build bridges to a changed life.

Please feel free to contact us

Do you have any questions about admission to the Sternenbrücke children's hospice, or would you like to make an enquiry about a stay? Then please feel free to contact us.

Anne Hagen & Katja Eichstaedt

Anne Hagen
Katja Eichstaedt

Danny Gast

Danny Gast

Petra Marquardt

Petra Marquardt