What’s on Your Grief Bookshelf?

December 19th, 2018
What’s on Your Grief Bookshelf?

What’s on Your Grief Bookshelf?

Visit any major bookstore, and you will likely find an entire section devoted to the topics of grief, loss, and bereavement. This is no accident; when you lose a loved one, reading is considered one of the best ways to cope. Whether you need information on the emotional side effects of loss, practical advice such as how to handle a parent’s finances, or even ongoing support as the years pass, there is sure to be a book designed with you in mind. (more…)

The Most Famous Famous Last Words

December 17th, 2018
The Most Famous Famous Last Words

The Most Famous Famous Last Words

Few of us get the chance to be immortalized in the moment right before death occurs. For most people, death is a quiet affair that involves healthcare professionals and maybe a few loved ones—we want it to be peaceful and dignified, and those are the only real considerations. (more…)

Legal Places to Scatter Ashes

December 14th, 2018
Legal Places to Scatter Ashes

Legal Places to Scatter Ashes

There is a popular story floating around about scattering the remains of a loved one at Disneyland. It is illegal to do it, and you can get kicked out of the park if you are caught, but that does not stop thousands of people from trying every year anyway. In fact, it is such a problem that the camera system is designed to catch people in the act and dispatch workers to clean up the remains before they become a health hazard. This means your loved one won’t, as you probably hoped, be spending eternity in the happiest place on earth. In reality, they will be sucked into a special vacuum and tossed out with the trash. (more…)

What is an Advance Directive, and When Should I Get One?

December 6th, 2018
What is an Advance Directive, and When Should I Get One?

What is an Advance Directive, and When Should I Get One?

An advance directive is more commonly known as a living will. This legal document outlines all of your wishes regarding your medical care in the event that you become unable to communicate with your health care providers. (more…)

Where Do You Grieve When There is No Grave?

November 28th, 2018
Where Do You Grieve When There is No Grave?

Where Do You Grieve When There is No Grave?

For most people, a grave is not just a convenient and legal place to lay a body to rest. It is also a place to mourn, a place to grieve, a place to go when you want to feel connected to the family member or friend you have lost. There are scientific studies that support the importance of having a physical space to mourn, as well as hundreds of thousands of anecdotal stories about how cemeteries help people cope with loss and grief. (more…)

How to Prepare for Your First Meeting with the Funeral Director

October 26th, 2018
How to Prepare for Your First Meeting with the Funeral Director

How to Prepare for Your First Meeting with the Funeral Director

When you lose a loved one, your first order of business is to choose a funeral home that will guide you through the burial decision making process. This funeral home will help you arrange the burial, cremation, funeral, and/or memorial service, up to and including selling you all the necessary items and preparing the body for the type of interment you choose. (more…)

Dealing with Grief through Photography

October 22nd, 2018
Dealing with Grief through Photography

Dealing with Grief through Photography

Everyone deals with grief and bereavement differently. For some people, it is a private journey that takes place almost entirely inside the heart and head. For others, mourning the loss of a loved one involves community, family, and as much outreach as possible. For still others, it is important to find a physical medium to commemorate a loved one. (more…)

Dealing with Debts after the Loss of a Loved One

October 17th, 2018
Dealing with Debts after the Loss of a Loved One

Dealing with Debts after the Loss of a Loved One

The financial aftermath of death can be a complicated affair. Some people have plenty of time in which to prepare for the death, which means they may have met with attorneys, made financial arrangements, and settled everything in advance. Other people (particularly those who die suddenly or who are not in a financial position to cover the costs of a legal advisor) might leave behind a pile of assets, debts, medical bills, bank accounts, and credit cards for you to wade through. (more…)

Quotes and Sayings for the Loss of a Pet

October 13th, 2018
Quotes and Sayings for the Loss of a Pet

Quotes and Sayings for the Loss of a Pet

There are hundreds of poems, songs, books, and more that express the devastating loss of a human friend or relative. Whether you are preparing a reading for the funeral or hoping to find comfort from meaningful quotes, you are likely to encounter plenty of different options. When you lose a pet, however, the search may be more difficult. That’s because although pets can be such an important part of our lives, they aren’t traditionally mourned the same way. (more…)

“After the Funeral” Etiquette

October 8th, 2018
“After the Funeral” Etiquette

“After the Funeral” Etiquette

There are plenty of guidelines that tell us what to wear to a funeral, how to send condolences to the family, what we need to know about buying funeral flowers, and how to act once we arrive. After all, we all want to make sure that we do our best to honor the deceased and support the family in their time of grief. (more…)

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