SUN CITY CENTER – Life does not have to end with the loss of a man’s spouse, partner or loved one.

This is a reality many can’t grasp when someone they’re close to dies. While loneliness and a feeling of separation are normal for a period of time, they don’t have to consume a widowers life going forward. Several months ago Sun City Center resident Jim Clark decided to start a support group for men after he lost his wife, Helen, in January. They had been married for 57 years.

Initially Clarke couldn’t imagine what life would be without her. He said sleepless nights, a bad temper and even a case of the shingles were all signs he wasn’t coping well with his sudden loss.

He hesitated when friends encouraged him to join a grief group. He didn’t feel at ease with the idea of talking about his pain with strangers. “The grief groups were mostly women,” Clarke said, after attending some meetings a couple of times. “It was difficult because men see things differently and I wasn’t comfortable there.”

In mid-February he founded the Widowers Wellness Group, a support group solely for men in Sun City Center and surrounding communities.

“I spoke with my friend John Bowker about it and he wrote a piece called ‘Help’ in his (e-newsletter),” Clarke said, noting he received calls from eight men. “The Widower’s Wellness Group is for men who want to share their unsolicited personal feelings and experiences during their ongoing grief journey. The secret is the unsolicited part. Our purpose is for listening, sharing, personal movement and growth, not for discussing political or religious issues.”

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