Posts Tagged ‘family’

How to Ask for Help with Grief

If you have ever lost a loved one, chances are you’ve heard the phrase, “Please let me know if there’s anything I can do” so many times that it barely registers. (more…)

What is Swedish Death Cleaning, and How is it Related to Funerals?

Death is such a reverent and painful subject that it is rare to find the term applied to anything except the end of a life. It is a topic we discuss when a loved becomes very sick, when we are writing out a will, or when we are faced with the sudden loss of a friend or family member. Rarely does the subject of death come up when we talk about cleaning the house. (more…)

To Tweet or Not to Tweet? Social Media Etiquette after a Death

For most of us, social media is where much of our lives take place. We connect with old friends and make plans with current ones. We share photos of our partners, spouses, kids, and pets. We discuss politics and religion. (more…)

Breaking “Alternative” Funeral Plans to Your Family

You have gone through your funeral planning options. You have started a funeral pre-payment plan that makes sense for your lifestyle. Regardless of your age, health, or financial situation, you have removed a huge burden from your family by coming up with your own funeral arrangements—and putting them into action long before you leave this world. (more…)

What to Do When There is No Funeral

Not everyone is grieved in a big, formal way. Although most families hold some sort of memorial service when a loved one dies, there are times when there is no commemoration planned. This might be due to scheduling conflicts, a lack of finances, a recent spate of deaths in the family, or even because it was what the deceased wished. (more…)

Funeral Card Etiquette

One of the simplest (and kindest) things you can send after the death of a friend or relative is a condolence card. This low-cost gesture show that you care and also provides the family with a keepsake memory of their loved one. Whether you write a personal message in a blank card or select one with a pre-printed saying, your contribution means a lot during this difficult time. (more…)

How to Give a Eulogy for a Friend

Few things are more terrifying—or more heartbreaking—than the prospect of giving a eulogy. Not only is public speaking a huge fear for a large percentage of the population, but public speaking when your life has just been turned upside down might feel like the impossible. How can you summarize another person’s life in a speech of just a few minutes? And how can you do it without breaking down? (more…)

How to Give a Eulogy for a Relative

For many people, giving a eulogy for a family member is one of the most difficult aspects of a funeral. Regardless of your feelings on public speaking, the act of standing up in front of a crowd and sharing your pain and emotions is hard to do. Add in the complicated family dynamics that often accompany funerals, and you might feel that it is better to stay seated and let someone else do the eulogizing. (more…)

Grieving an Estranged Family Member

There is no denying that grief is a personal, difficult journey, and that no two people approach it the same way. The loss of a beloved parent or the death of a dear friend is likely to hit you hard, and you won’t know how you will cope until it happens to you. (more…)