Ben’s Bell

By The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson

May 27–The recipient of this week’s Ben’s Bell is Janna Excell, a bereavement counselor who’s been involved with several local groups that aid the grief-stricken.

Excell was nominated by her friend, Nannoe Westbrook, who described Excell as “an angel in human form.”

“Janna has been a bereavement/crisis counselor in Tucson for over 25 years, assisting adults, children and families through crisis, change, and/or death-related issues,” Westbrook wrote in her nomination letter. “She facilitates two grief support groups here in Tucson and is co-founder of the Near-Death Experience group.

“She has served and currently serves on many board of directors, such as Homicide Survivors, Survivors of Suicide, and Polio Epic, a post-polio support group. Janna lectures at national and international conferences and is frequently a community speaker, including (on) television and radio programs. She has published many articles and authored two books, ‘A Time to Grieve, A Time to Dance,’ and ‘Soul Light: Connection Between Worlds,’ ” Westbrook continued. “She has helped so many people in this community with her gentle, loving nature; I think it would be so appropriate to honor her with one of Ben’s Bells.”

The Ben’s Bells project began in March 2003, one year after Ben Mare Packard died of croup, just before his third birthday. His family hopes it reminds people to be kind, to help ease one another’s pain.

The latest phase of the project began in September, weekly “bellings” for those among us who make our community a better, kinder place to live.

If you know people who deserve a Ben’s Bell, nominate them to be “Belled.” Go to www.929themountain.com /pages/jennie_itm.html and click on Ben’s Bellings. To learn more about the project, go to www.bensbells.org.

Check the Star each Saturday to see the latest recipient.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson

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