Stories. News.
People With Heart.

Family reflections. People who give their time. Moments of connection across Michigan. Meet the community around Ele’s Place.

Stories From the Heart

Follow the moments and people shaping our community.

Crosby family

Friends Who Understand

Panter family

Keeping Dad Part of the Conversation

Caleb Britten

Coming Full Circle

In the News

Be There November Brings Children’s Grief Awareness to Michigan · FOX 17 Community Partners · November 5, 2026 · Original feature
Chelsea Kiwanis Hears How Ele’s Place Supports Grieving Children · The Chelsea Post · August 22, 2026 · Original feature
The Hoeksema Family Shares Its Connection to Ele’s Place · FOX 17 Morning Mix · June 26, 2026 · Original feature

Earlier coverage

2025–2026 (7)

How Adam Starr Helped Bring Ele’s Place to Grand Rapids · FOX 17 · April 24, 2026 · Original feature
Olivia Wilder Talks With WEMU About Grief Support · WEMU · April 13, 2026 · Original feature
Ann Arbor’s Fifth Healing Hearts Family Walk and Run · The Sun Times News · September 14, 2025 (event date) · Original event listing
A Second Michigan Athletics Honor Recognizes Community Service · Michigan Athletics · July 31, 2025 · University announcement
From a Family Group to Facilitating for Others · WILX News 10 · April 22, 2025 · Original feature
Helping Grieving Kids Find Comfort · WILX · April 21, 2025
Michigan Hockey’s Community Involvement Recognized in April Award · Michigan Athletics · April 11, 2025 · University announcement

2020–2024 (13)

WEMU Talks With Kate Powers About Grief During the Holidays · WEMU · December 23, 2024 · Original feature
Children’s Grief Awareness Day in Lansing · WILX · November 21, 2024 · Original feature
Ann Arbor Families Make Remembrance Candles Together · Ele’s Place Ann Arbor · July–December 2023
West Michigan Invites Volunteers to Become Group Facilitators · FOX 17 · July 11, 2023 · Original feature
Art, Music and Play at Ann Arbor’s Home for Healing Hearts · Crazy Wisdom Community Journal · May 1, 2023 · Original feature
Winter Group Nights in Ann Arbor in 2023 · Ele’s Place Ann Arbor · March 30, 2023
Junior League of Flint Collects Supplies for Ele’s Place · Junior League of Flint · February 13, 2023 · Original event listing
Ele’s Place Announces Jennifer Wolfe Howard’s Appointment in 2022 · WDIV / ClickOnDetroit · November 26, 2022 · Original feature
Fifteen Years of Ele’s Place in Ann Arbor · Ele’s Place Ann Arbor · 2022
Families Return to Ann Arbor Groups in Fall 2021 · Ele’s Place Ann Arbor · December 15, 2021
What Happens When a Family Calls Ele’s Place? · WDIV / ClickOnDetroit · January 22, 2021 · Original feature
An Ann Arbor Distiller Creates the Red Hearted Julep · WDIV / ClickOnDetroit · December 11, 2020 · Original feature
How the Flint Branch Stayed in Touch With Families in 2020 · Ele’s Place · 2020

2010–2019 (19)

Ann Arbor Families Welcome a Home for Healing Hearts · WDIV / ClickOnDetroit · September 30, 2019 · Original feature
The Ellis Family Shares Its Story Before the Healing Hearts Breakfast · FOX 17 · May 28, 2019 · Original feature
University of Michigan Greek Week Includes Ele’s Place · University of Michigan Fraternity & Sorority Life · 2019 · University announcement
How a Breakfast Brought Jaime Counterman to Ele’s Place · Rapid Growth · October 4, 2018 · Original feature
Breaking Ground on Ann Arbor’s Home for Healing Hearts · Ann Arbor Observer · August 10, 2018 · Original feature
West Michigan Marks Five Years of Peer Grief Support · West Michigan Woman · April 11, 2018
Planning a Permanent Home for Ann Arbor Families · Pittsfield Charter Township · 2017
Kelly Koerner Talks With WKAR About Children’s Grief · WKAR · April 13, 2016 · Original feature
Inside a Peer Support Group in Grand Rapids · Rapid Growth · March 24, 2016 · Original feature
The Overweg Family Finds Support After a Father’s Death · A Healthier Michigan · August 17, 2015 · Original feature
Oceana Bailey Remembers Her Father · Ann Arbor Observer · August 1, 2014 · Original feature
Listening Alongside Children With Volunteer Mary Mueting · Ann Arbor Family · April 1, 2014 · Original feature
A Family and a Branch Leader Talk With WKAR · WKAR Public Media · September 18, 2013 · Original feature
A Community Opens Its Doors to Ele’s Place in Grand Rapids · Rapid Growth · June 27, 2013 · Original feature
Toyota Technical Center Marks 35 Years With Community Grants · Concentrate · October 31, 2012 · Original feature
A Washtenaw Giving Group Remembers Its First Gift · The Chelsea Standard · July 5, 2012
A Fifth Third Employee Nomination Brings Support to Ele’s Place · AnnArbor.com · May 10, 2012 · Original feature
Michigan Radio Asks How Families Find Grief Support · Michigan Radio, now Michigan Public · March 5, 2012 · Original feature
Sue Snyder Joins a Campaign for Grieving Children · AnnArbor.com · May 20, 2011 · Original feature

2000–2009 (4)

A $5,000 Grant to Expand Grief Support in Washtenaw County · The Chelsea Standard · December 17, 2009
An Early Invitation to Ann Arbor Families · Ann Arbor Observer · November 2008
Before Ann Arbor Had an Ele’s Place · The Chelsea Standard · October 12, 2006
A Lansing Family Opens Its Corn Maze for EleFest · The State News · September 15, 2003

Community Voices

In Our Families’ Words

My children know they are not alone when they come to Ele’s Place. They feel comfort knowing it’s OK to feel sad, mad, frustrated, etc. with the loss of their Nana.

It’s good to share without judgment or pity.

She loves to talk about her brother now and remembers happy times much more than the sorrow of his death.

A child’s artwork from the Ele’s Place collection.

One Story Can Meet Someone Where They Are.

Explore the full collection of family experiences.

Nanea Hoffman uses humor to describe the connection between grief and love. The families who share their stories here each have their own words for that connection.