After a funeral you might not know whether you’re supposed to go to the reception or how long you’re meant to stay. This sort of stuff isn’t ever really explained. So you won’t be alone if you’re not sure about it all. We all know, roughly at least, how a funeral service works. But the … Read more
The first anniversary of losing someone is a strange and hard milestone. You spend the whole year getting ready for it dreading it and then when it finally arrives and you’re not quite sure what you’re supposed to do with yourself. What helped me was writing. A year in remembrance letter was something I found … Read more
Losing a brother takes away someone who has known you almost your whole life. He was there for the childhood you shared and siblings often have a unique bond that only they can understand. Saying goodbye to him is one of the hardest things you will ever do. A funeral poem can help when your … Read more
Something most people struggle with is which is better: sending flowers or a gift after a loss? And it’s a fair thing to be worried about getting right. You want to do the right thing and not seem thoughtless. And you definitely don’t want to send something that ends up causing more upset or offence. … Read more
When you find out someone you knew has died but it’s wasn’t recently you can be forgiven for panicking. It could be that you were just scrolling through Facebook or chatting with an old friend and then you’re hit with the news. There’s the grief, of course. But there’s also guilt. You weren’t there. You … Read more
It can be very awkward when you find out someone you’ve lost touch with has had a death in the family. You want to reach out. You really should reach out. But you’re probably thinking: won’t it be weird after all this time? You might have drifted apart with no real falling out. Maybe life … Read more
When you’re saying goodbye to someone who served in the military or their country it can feel like ordinary words aren’t enough. A veteran’s life has dealt with something most us will never understand and a funeral is the moment to honor that. The right poem can do all of that for you when your … Read more
Being asked to be a pallbearer is meant to be an honor. And most of the time it is. But sometimes you don’t feel up to it. It could be that your grief is so bad that the thought of carrying the casket feels like too much. Or the timing is wrong. And then you’re … Read more
There aren’t really any words that fix a stillbirth. I want to say that right at the start because if you’ve found your way here hoping I’ll be able to give you the perfect words that takes away someone’s pain then I’d be lying to you. But there are both kinder things you can say … Read more
Some losses don’t get a funeral. A miscarriage means there’s no church or casket. Quite often people seem not to even notice or you haven’t told them. And so a baby you loved with everything you had before you ever got to hold them is gone. If you’re in this position you’ll probably find any … Read more