Join us for an inspiring Educational Workshop with Dr. William (Bill) Hoy and Dr. Patti Anewalt!

Date:May 11, 2026 and May 12, 2026

Time: 8:30 am to noon

Location: 2421 Willow Street Pike, Willow Street, PA 17584

Register by April 24, 2026.

Costs And Registration

Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory is sponsoring this unique educational conference free of charge.

About The Conference

Bereaved individuals never come to a loss as a “blank slate.” Rather, individuals bring their own mental health history (including underlying depression and anxiety), family systems issues, struggles with their own personal illnesses, or their sense of unfinished business to the experience of loss. These factors can significantly affect how people navigate the grief journey, potentially making assessment and intervention significantly more difficult. This workshop promises to develop participants’ basic skills at assessing these potential grief-altering factors while offering evidence-based and clinically proven strategies for navigating loss in light of these complicating factors.

Who Should Attend?

This conference is for, but not limited to, social workers, counselors, chaplains, clergy/pastors, therapists, long-term care or hospice and palliative care professionals, nurses, volunteers, funeral directors, aftercare workers, and Stephen Ministers.

Presenters

Dr. William G. (Bill) Hoy

Following a career in hospice care, Dr. William G. (Bill) Hoy served as Clinical Professor of Medical Humanities at Baylor University in Waco, Texas from 2012 – 2024. A popular speaker for groups of caregiving professionals across North America, Dr. Hoy has authored more than 250 journal articles, published papers, book chapters, and eight books.

Dr. Patti Anewalt

Dr. Patti Anewalt developed the Pathways Center for Grief & Loss, a program of Hospice & Community Care. The Pathways Center supports nearly 8,500 bereaved adults, children and teens each year. The focus of Dr. Anewalt’s clinical practice, writing and teaching is on issues related to end of life, grief, compassion fatigue and crisis response, presenting at the national, state and local levels.

Objectives

At the conclusion of this conference, participants will be able to:

• Identify key components to assess risk of complex grief.
• Explain the ways “selfhood” issues potentially complicate the bereavement journey.
• Utilize effective intervention strategies for addressing critical selfhood issues.

Conference Agenda

8:00 a.m. – Breakfast & Registration
8:30 a.m.

• We don’t grieve as a “blank slate”
• Constellation of complexity in grief
• What makes a good assessment
• Mapping the terrain: Issues of complexity
• Addressing care to the most vulnerable
• Case studies and input of panelists

11:45 a.m. – Closing Remarks

Costs And Registration

Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory is sponsoring this unique educational conference free of charge.

Registration deadline is April 24, 2026. Register early; space is limited.

Additional Information

Conference includes:

• Continental breakfast
• Lecture and conference materials
• Continuing Education Credits (3 hours)
  • Choices Healthcare is an approved provider of continuing funeral director’s education by the State Board of Funeral Directors.
  • This activity has been approved for 3.0 SW, LPC and LMFT CEUs by the PA State Board of Social Workers, Marriage & Family Therapist & Professional Counselors. Full attendance is required. No partial credit is available.

Questions?

Contact Daliah Ferko at 717-464-4600.
daliah@snyderfuneralhome.com