Photos: Valerie's House helps children grieve the loss of a loved one in Pensacola

Pensacola News Journal

Alexia Seitz, 11, who lost her father Daniel Seitz, adds a word that she associates with death on a white board during the Valerie's House group night “What I Hate About Death” activity hosted at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida building in Pensacola on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021.

GREGG PACHKOWSKI/GREGG@PNJ.COM


Lukas Seitz, 6, center, who lost his father Daniel Seitz, adds a word that he associates with death on a whiteboard during the Valerie's House group night “What I Hate About Death” activity hosted at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida building in Pensacola on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021.

GREGG PACHKOWSKI/GREGG@PNJ.COM


Alexia Seitz, 11, center, who lost her father Daniel Seitz, pauses while speaking during the Valerie's House group night “What I Hate About Death” activity hosted at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida building in Pensacola on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021.

GREGG PACHKOWSKI/GREGG@PNJ.COM


Francesca Pease, 7, center, who lost her mother Charity Pease, adds a word that she associates with death on a white board during the Valerie's House group night “What I Hate About Death” activity hosted at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida building in Pensacola on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021.

GREGG PACHKOWSKI/GREGG@PNJ.COM


Volunteer Carly Snyder, right, adds a word that the group of caregivers associates with death on a white board during the Valerie's House group night “What I Hate About Death” activity hosted at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida building in Pensacola on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021.

GREGG PACHKOWSKI/GREGG@PNJ.COM


Ella Castleberry, 11, top, who lost her father James Castleberry, adds a word that the group associates with death on a white board during the Valerie's House group night “What I Hate About Death” activity hosted at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida building in Pensacola on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021.

GREGG PACHKOWSKI/GREGG@PNJ.COM


Chapter founder Crista Brandt, top left, speaks during the Valerie's House group night “What I Hate About Death” activity hosted at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida building in Pensacola on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021.

GREGG PACHKOWSKI/GREGG@PNJ.COM


From left, Rhea Spaar, 11, who lost her mother Kayla Crocker, chats with chapter founder Crista Brandt while taking a break from chalk drawing with volunteer Chandler Spencer prior to the Valerie's House group night “What I Hate About Death” activity hosted at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida building in Pensacola on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021.

GREGG PACHKOWSKI/GREGG@PNJ.COM


Volunteer Jennifer Elzweig looks on as Francesca Pease, 7, who lost her mother Charity Pease, blows bubbles prior to the Valerie's House group night “What I Hate About Death” activity hosted at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida building in Pensacola on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021.

GREGG PACHKOWSKI/GREGG@PNJ.COM


Ella Castleberry, 11, right, who lost her father James Castleberry, adds a word that she associates with death on a white board during the Valerie's House group night “What I Hate About Death” activity hosted at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida building in Pensacola on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021.

GREGG PACHKOWSKI/GREGG@PNJ.COM


Billy Smith, 11, who lost his father Billy Smith, left, and volunteer Muskaan Soni play with a flying disc prior to the Valerie's House group night “What I Hate About Death” activity hosted at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida building in Pensacola on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021.

GREGG PACHKOWSKI/GREGG@PNJ.COM


Ella Castleberry, 11, who lost her father James Castleberry, adds a word that she associates with death on a white board during the Valerie's House group night “What I Hate About Death” activity hosted at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida building in Pensacola on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021.

GREGG PACHKOWSKI/GREGG@PNJ.COM


Clockwise from left, Billy Smith, 11, who lost his father Billy Smith, volunteer Muskaan Soni, Brandon Underwood, 13, who lost both his father Barry Underwood and 14-year-old brother Barrett Underwood, Olivia Castleberry, 17, wholost her father James Castleberry, and volunteer Chandler Spencer talk during the Valerie's House group night “What I Hate About Death” activity hosted at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida building in Pensacola on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021.

GREGG PACHKOWSKI/GREGG@PNJ.COM


Breezie Seitz, center, who lost her husband Daniel Seitz, speaks during the Valerie's House group night “What I Hate About Death” activity hosted at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida building in Pensacola on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021.

GREGG PACHKOWSKI/GREGG@PNJ.COM


Emma Rathbun, 11, top left, who lost her mother Christine Rathbun, adds a word that she associates with death on a white board during the Valerie's House group night “What I Hate About Death” activity hosted at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida building in Pensacola on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021.

GREGG PACHKOWSKI/GREGG@PNJ.COM


Lukas Seitz, 6, who lost his father Daniel Seitz, left, and volunteer Jennifer Elzweig look on as Evie Mixon, 10, who lost her 6-year-old brother Wyatt Mixson, throws a wet cotton ball at words associated with death to help release emotions during the Valerie's House group night “What I Hate About Death” activity hosted at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida building in Pensacola on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021.

GREGG PACHKOWSKI/GREGG@PNJ.COM


Alexia Seitz, 11, right, who lost her father Daniel Seitz, speaks during the Valerie's House group night “What I Hate About Death” activity hosted at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida building in Pensacola on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021.

GREGG PACHKOWSKI/GREGG@PNJ.COM


Rhea Spaar, 11, right, who lost her mother Kayla Crocker, speaks during the Valerie's House group night “What I Hate About Death” activity hosted at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida building in Pensacola on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021.

GREGG PACHKOWSKI/GREGG@PNJ.COM


From left, Brandon Underwood, 13, who lost both his father Barry Underwood and his 14-year-old brother Barrett Underwood, Lukas Seitz, 6, who lost his father Daniel Seitz, and volunteer Muskaan Soni look on as volunteer Rich Panepinto tries to dislodge a basketball that is stuck behind the backboard prior to the Valerie's House group night “What I Hate About Death” activity hosted at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida building in Pensacola on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021.

GREGG PACHKOWSKI/GREGG@PNJ.COM


Emma Rathbun, 11, who lost her mother Christine Rathbun, left, and volunteer Fiama Mastrangelo play catch prior to the Valerie's House group night “What I Hate About Death” activity hosted at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida building in Pensacola on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021.

GREGG PACHKOWSKI/GREGG@PNJ.COM


From left, Brandon Underwood, 13, who lost both his father Barry Underwood and 14-year-old brother Barrett Underwood, and volunteer Chandler Spencer work on untangling a rope as Rhea Spaar, 11, who lost her mother Kayla Crocker, starts jumping prior to the Valerie's House group night “What I Hate About Death” activity hosted at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida building in Pensacola on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021.

GREGG PACHKOWSKI/GREGG@PNJ.COM