After our mom died my sister gave me a notebook to write my feelings down in. She said it would help cope with the grief. I let the notebook sit on my nightstand for about three weeks before I finally opened it. Every night I’d look at the cover and think – not tonight. And … Read more
There is nothing harder than your son dying. And then you might have to write an obituary for that son whilst dealing with the grief and pain. If you’re facing that situation remember two things: you don’t have to write it alone and doesn’t have to be perfect. The obituary examples below are here to … Read more
There’s a bench near to me that I’ve sat on more times than I can count. Screwed to the top rail on it is a small brass plaque. It says the person loved the spot. That’s basically all it says. And every time I stop there I think about them for a moment. It’s a … Read more
You often can’t plan for a funeral. A death of a loved one can happen without warning. And when it does you have to find the money to pay for what is usually a costly funeral. It’s a horrible position to be in. Funerals are expensive. According to the National Funeral Directors Association the median … Read more
My neighbor lost her daughter a few years ago and at the time she showed me a notepad full of crossed out lines as she was struggling to write the obituary. She’d been trying for days and not making any progress. Not because she didn’t have anything to say but because she had years of … Read more
When I first lost a coworker it really shocked me. We weren’t best friends outside of work but we’d shared all the usual things colleagues do – bad coffee, inside jokes, complaining about Monday mornings etc. When she was gone I realized how much of my ordinary life she’d been part of and how strange … Read more
When you lose someone you love the last thing on your mind is who sent what. But once you’re through those first few weeks you might end up with lots of notification cards from a charity telling you that a friend or relative made a donation in your loved one’s memory. It’s a really moving … Read more
A celebration of life feels different from a traditional funeral. You’re still going to be missing the deceased but the day is much more about gratitude and remembering the good instead of feeling sad. And using the right Bible verse at a celebration of life doesn’t try to explain the loss away or tie it … Read more
When you lose a cat you lose a family member. Cats are a quiet companion that asks for very little but gives so much. I still remember the first morning after I said goodbye to my cat Meg. The house felt so quiet and much emptier without her winding around my legs. If you’re in … Read more
After a funeral it can become very quiet. For a few days you have people around you constantly and the phone always ringing. Then the service happens, everyone hugs one more time and by the following morning the house is silent. Those grieving and bereaved are left wondering what they do next. It’s then that … Read more