Creating an Occasion for Smiles Every person, no matter where or how long they lived, has special dates associated with their lives. Wedding anniversaries, birthdays, and notable events all come to mind as we pass through the calendar year. And while many of those occasions bring smiles and fond memories back to us, the approaching dates of other events might leave us, and the ones we love, filled with dread. The anniversary of a loved one’s passing is not traditionally thought of in Western cultures as a motivation for celebration. But the inevitability of the date arriving every year leaves us with Read More »

The Importance of Community and Grief There are so many occasions in life where we should seek out the comfort and community of the ones around us. Gathering is essential for the relief and comfort it provides after the loss of a friend or family member. If there is any doubt in your mind about the importance of having a special moment for your loved one, please consider the following ideas. Why Gathering is So Important A marked occasion allows for a concrete goodbye. The grieving process looks different for everyone, but it’s an inevitable part of life. It can be very Read More »

Obituaries have traditionally been used by families to let the community know about their loved one’s passing. An obituary recognizes the impact that person had on their community, their ties to the community, and the family members that are left behind. It also informs anyone who might want to attend the funeral of the schedules and dates for any services being held. While the practice might seem a little outdated for those who don’t typically read the newspaper, the rise of the online obituary has allowed families to continue honoring their family members with a much wider and more immediate reach. Writing Read More »

Funerals and end-of-life traditions are an essential part of saying goodbye to those who have passed, creating a final moment of memory and peace that draws us together in our love for those who have gone before us. We in the United States tend to celebrate the passing of our loved ones with memorial services that involve different traditions based on our religions, family practices, and other cultural elements, ranging from somber to joyous. But as you can imagine, there is a world full of ceremonies and practices that look almost nothing like our own, while still being filled with love and Read More »

Difficult Conversations with Deep Significance Part of truly loving someone is the hopes and dreams that we have of a life with them, always looking towards the future.  But as time marches on, one of the realities we must face is that, while we would love to live together side-by-side with our spouse forever, there will be a time that comes when we cannot. Therefore, part of showing true love is preparing our spouses, and ourselves, for a time in which they must prepare for our funeral arrangements. Even if you opt for pre-planning, your spouse must be at least informed of Read More »

Going Back to Our Lives While Grieving It’s a common misconception that our lives go back to normal after the funeral of a friend or loved one, and that we have completed the grieving process once we leave the memorial service. While the memorial service is an essential part of closure and community, grieving can often last for months, and sometimes years, after we have said goodbye to a person in physical form. Though the grieving process looks and feels different for everyone, there are certain steps we can take, and points to think about, that might make the process a bit Read More »

Dealing with the Loss of a Grandparent as a Child  The loss of a grandparent can be particularly hard for young children, especially ones that might be too young to really grasp what has happened. In addition to being a difficult time of loss for you, the whole funeral process can be both overwhelming and unfamiliar to a child. They may be looking for the comfort of a beloved relative who can no longer physically provide it in those unsettling times. Fortunately, concerned parents and caregivers have begun making a heartwarming effort to memorialize grandparents. They have adopted creative ways that help Read More »

Given the events of the last two years, it has not always been possible for everyone to attend a memorial service that would have liked to. Whether for geographical, logistical, or health reasons, family members and friends haven’t always been able to be on-site to help mourn the loss of a loved one, which is certainly a vital part of everyone’s grieving process. Luckily, with new challenges come new solutions. With a little bit of additional effort, you can be sure to include the ones in the memorial service that would be there if they could, all while giving your loved one Read More »

Keeping a Proactive Mindset Funeral pre-planning is a beautiful gift of preparation and anticipation, both for yourself and for your friends and family. It means that one of the most difficult aspects of saying goodbye has already been taken care of. One of the keys to successful and impactful funeral planning is to keep a proactive mindset, even if it isn’t necessarily a positive one. At the end of the day, you are pre-planning your funeral arrangements for the benefit of those who you love. You are answering the questions now so that they don’t have to be answered by your loved Read More »