Eva Bustamante

Evangelina (Eva) Bustamante, MS CT, CG-C, Coordinator of the Bereavement Ministry, Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Chicago. Eva, as Coordinator for the Bereavement Ministry, also referred to as the Ministry of Consolation and Compassion, has been responsible the last 13 years of her 25 years at Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Chicago, for the formation of volunteers to equip them to serve as Bereavement Ministers to the bereaved, guided by and under the direction of the pastor in a parish setting. After their formation, the Minister is prepared to meet with the bereaved family to plan their loved-one’s funeral liturgy and to companion the bereaved in their initial journey of their loss. Eight years ago, Eva initiated and developed an annual Day of Reflection for Bereavement Ministers across the Archdiocese of Chicago and neighboring areas. This exhilarating event has served to refresh, to reflect, to reconnect and to renew a better understanding of death, dying and bereavement. After Covid struck, Eva developed a virtual bereavement and grief support program sponsored and approved by the Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Chicago for the afflicted families. Eva holds a Master’s of Science degree in Thanatology from Marian University, Fond du Lac, WI. In 2018, she earned her CT as a thanatologist by ADEC, the national Association for Death Education and Counseling. She has been a long-time member of ADEC. Eva most recently earned a certificate in grief-counseling from the American Institute of Health Care Professionals. She is also a member of NAGC.

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