good people

good grief center staff

Lulu Orr
Executive Director

Lulu has been a registered nurse for 25 years and has spent a majority of that time in hospice nursing. She began her career by working as a primary home care nurse for Forbes Hospice and later became the admissions coordinator for home hospice patients and in-patient hospice patients. During her six years as admissions coordinator, Lulu worked with many family members struggling with anticipatory grief issues. This led to her becoming a facilitator of a Bereavement Support group sponsored by Forbes Hospice at St. Margaret's Hospital. She worked with this group for more than six years.

Because of her interest in bereavement issues, Lulu started consulting with several local funeral homes to provide Bereavement Support to family members. Motivated by the growing need and fueled by her passion, she conceived a model for community-based Bereavement Support. She founded GGC in 2000 and its doors opened in 2001.

Lulu continues to be involved in hospice care activities as a member of the Professional Advisory Board and The Founders Society Board of Forbes Hospice. She is also a member of the Professional Advisory Board of The Caring Place, Helping Hands Healing Hearts and a member of the board of corporators of Allegheny Cemetery.

Marilyn Chapla
Associate Director

Marilyn, a former volunteer, intern and secretary of the GGC Board of Advisors, joined the staff as Associate Director in June of 2004. With thirty years of experience in the business world, Marilyn changed careers and obtained her social work degree from Carlow College. Her social work focus shifted to death, dying and bereavement issues after becoming actively involved with GGC in March of 2001.

Diana Hardy, MS, NCC, LPC
Program Manager

Diana obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and graduated summa cum laude from Chatham University with a Master of Science degree in Counseling Psychology. Diana began working with bereaved individuals several years ago as a former volunteer and intern of the Good Grief Center. She has many years of experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families. By way of clinical care at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and various research projects through the University of Pittsburgh, Diana has worked with children and adolescents with chronic illnesses and their families, as well as with mothers who have had children recently diagnosed with cancer. She is an author on several journal publications, published abstracts, and has edited text on issues in career development in schools.

Diana is trained in many clinical modalities which includes obtaining her certification in clinical hypnosis in August of 2007 from the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis of which she is also a member. Additionally, Diana is a member of Psi Chi and Chi Sigma Iota National Honor Societies in Psychology, and the American Counseling Association.

Jacqui Jarosz
Fundraising and Finance Coordinator

Jacqui Jarosz comes to the Good Grief Center with a diverse educational and professional background. Recently she completed a Master of International Development from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School for Public and International Affairs while working for a Pittsburgh non-profit agency. Prior to pursuing her service interests on a full time basis, Jacqui received a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from John Carroll University while working in public accounting for a regional accounting firm in Cleveland, Ohio.

Toni Long
Administrative Coordinator

Toni comes to GGC after 28 years at PPG Industries, Inc. where her background was in Communications and the Corporate Foundation. Toni decided to move to the non-profit world and sees GGC as an extension of the bereavement work she does at her church. Toni also serves as Music Minister at St. Benedict the Moor Church.