In loving memory of Timothy Murphy and Brian Morrell.

Please join us in launching The Estuary: A Network Supporting Grieving Children and Families.

Why The Estuary?

An estuary is a body of water where freshwater meets saltwater, creating rich, nurturing habitats home to a wide variety of life.

Symbolically, estuaries represent liminal spaces, transition, and potential — places to pause, adapt, and grow.

Like these places, The Estuary aims to provide a safe transitional space for grieving children and families to process loss, build resilience, and find hope and support.

The Program

The Estuary will begin with a weekly grief group in Upton, Massachusetts, directly benefiting Timothy’s family and the Upton/Mendon community.

After this pilot, we will expand to Worcester, offering ongoing grief support groups, volunteer training, and professional development for care providers who work with grieving youth and families.

Meet the Founder – Erin Morrell:

Erin is a grief survivor, having lost her father, Brian, at age 12. She began her journey in grief work as a facilitator with the teen group at the Carriage House Program for Grieving Children and Families in Worcester, and later led the program as Program Manager, guiding children, teens and their caregivers through the journey of grief with compassion and personal understanding through lived experience. Erin’s journey has allowed her to create spaces where children and families can safely explore their feelings and begin to heal.