If You’ve Met This Local, You’d Remember

If you’ve ever met this month’s “LOCAL SECRET,” you’d remember. Her love of her job and passion for the people she helps makes her unforgettable. If by chance you haven’t met her, you’ve probably heard about her from someone whose life she has touched.

Meet Rhonda Knotts, Director of Support Services, Grief Counselor, & Director of Camp New Dawn.

What is your educational background? I have a masters in community counseling, from Wilmington University

How long have you been with Compass and what attracted you to working there? I have been here 18 years today!! My love for hospice happened when I fell in love with their grief camp, which I volunteered at for 9 years before doing an internship in their bereavement department.

What is the best part of your position? It is such an honor and a privilege to walk with people through some of the most vulnerable and heartbreaking moments of their lives. I can’t fix what they are going through, but I can be an encourager, and I can remind them that they will come through to the other side of heartache.

What challenges do you face? One of my challenges is probably “attachment.” I can’t help but develop an affection for so many people that I get to spend time with. I must remind myself often that healthy boundaries are a must if I want to keep doing this amazing work.

What would you say to families whose children are experiencing grief about a loved one? I would encourage them to remember the James E. Miller quote that reads, “grief shared is grief diminished. Allowing children and teens to be in environments with others their age, who have suffered major losses, helps to alleviate the feeling of isolation (due to grief) and promotes opportunities to share their thoughts and feelings, so that they feel less alone.

Is there any one moment or situation that stands out while at Camp Dawn... making you truly believe in the value of Camp Dawn? Wow, that is a tough one because it’s really about a million little moments that have been life affirming. But if I were going to narrow it down, I would say that it’s amazing to witness the bonds and affection that kids end up having for each other, simply because they are on a similar walk. The compassion and love that they show to each other is so inspiring and makes camp worth it in every sense of the word. 1/3 of our “Buddies” (an adult assigned to a grieving child) were campers themselves when they were younger and now have a desire to give back to other children. That is beautiful!

What do you do for fun?  I am blessed with an amazing family and friends and one of my favorite places to spend time with them is on the Chester River. We have a camper that sits right on the river, and we love to spend our summers there with our family and friends. It’s my happy place!!