A pair of commemorative benches donated by the Monadnock region chapter of Compassionate Friends offers a peaceful spot for contemplating the confluence of the Contoocook and Nubanusit rivers in Peterborough.
The benches, which are located on the Riverwalk adjacent to the pedestrian bridge and the Grove Street parking lot, are memorials to the lost loved ones of the members of the group, and commemorate the work of the local chapter of Compassionate Friends, a worldwide grief support group for people who have lost a loved one.
Barry Ecchavaria, co-leader of the Monadnock Region chapter of Compassionate Friends, said the group decided to donate the benches to give back to the Town of Peterborough.
“We have incredible support from the town, and we wanted to do something to give back, so future generations who can enjoy the beauty that Peterborough has to offer, but who may also may find themselves on a grief journey, ” Ecchavaria said.
Echavarria’s co-leader, Linda Scerbinski, and Cindy Caron, a member of the steering committee, were also present for the dedication.
Seth MacLean, Assistant Town Administrator, and Select Board members Bill Kennedy and Bonnie Tucker represented the Town of Peterborough.
“We thought hard about where these benches should go, and especially about what the view would be. We didn’t want people to just be staring at the traffic across the river; this way, there are views of the water up and downstream,” Ecchavaria said.
After 10 years, the Monadnock Region chapter of Compassionate Friends is closing, but the group is still active in other towns, including Manchester.
“We have accomplished everything we set out to accomplish. It may rekindle someday, depending on the needs of the community. We’ll see,” Echavarria said. “It is a group that never wants new members.”
Echavarria and Scerbinski said that as many members head toward retirement, the chapter decided to close.
“We adhere to the national rules, which is that every two years you switch up the leadership, but we were so small, we couldn’t switch up the leadership,” Echavarria said. “It was very challenging, because we made ourselves available 24/7. We would get calls from people who lost their children in horrific circumstances the day before.”
Compassionate Friends volunteers receive training in group facilitation and outreach and provide resources and support groups to people experiencing grief.
Echavarria said Compassionate Friends was a lifeline in his grief journey.
“When my daughter passed in 2012, I had no idea where to turn to get help,” he said. “I started going to meetings in Nashua, and Manchester, and eventually, I met other people from this region, and we started the chapter here.”
Echavarria met Scerbinski, another Peterborough resident, who had been attending Compassionate Friends after the loss of her son.
With the help of Linda Riley, leader of the state organization, Scerbinski and Echavarria started the Monadnock Region chapter.
“The goal is to support parents who have lost a child, siblings who have lost a sibling, and parents who have lost a grandchild,” Echavarria said. “Our grief support group has touched the lives of many folks over the last 10 years. We never knew who was going to turn up and walk through the door. The most important message we can give people who have lost a child, sibling, or grandchild is that they are not alone.”
For information about Compassionate Friends in New Hampshire, go to nhfv.org/support-group/compassionate-friends.