What to Do After the Passing of a Loved One

Family members lose loved ones every day. Death is a part of the natural progression of life, yet it remains a devastatingly sad event, whether we’ve seen it coming or not. Understanding the grieving process and working through the stages of loss and sadness will be a part of life for many months, and potentially even years to come, but a feeling of extreme quiet and loneliness is often the first emotion to arrive.

The passing of a loved one is a tragic time that we will all experience at some point and many who have experienced it fails to grasp the full weight of the emotions and grieving that comes in the direct aftermath of a loss, wake, and funeral services. The first days and weeks are incredibly important for setting the tone going forward, and this is often the place where many people put their focus as a result.

The First Weeks

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Directly after the loss of a loved one, those who survive the deceased must remain in an unbreaking circle among family and friends. Leaning on loved ones in this time of struggle is the best way to combat the stress of a loss. The first weeks are crucial for setting your mental health on a path toward healing and acceptance. In the current era, almost 60 million people die worldwide every year. This simply means that our population is naturally ebbing and flowing as time goes on. While this is a tough blow for anyone with a relative whose time has come, the natural progression of life remains a beautiful thing that we must celebrate together.

Turning to religion is a great way to handle the stress of this loss. With a Jesus storybook Bible, you can share in the comfort of religious teaching with your children as well. It’s important to remember that children are hit hard by these losses as well. While they may not have the vocabulary or capacity to express their anguish in a manner that is easily recognizable, the devastation after the loss of a grandparent, uncle, or even parent or sibling is crushing. It’s important not to discount the feelings of your children during this time, no matter how old they are.

With a turn to religion, making sense of the loss can be a comforting and group experience that you and your close family all share with one another. Reading scripture, taking a church leaflet or brochure, listening to the pastor’s sermon that places the center of their story on the New Testament (or Old Testament), and internalizing the story of God can be a powerful healing tool for all ages.

Think about the mechanics of the funeral service.

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It’s a great idea to read through brochure examples regarding funeral home services. These include cremation, direct cremation, and burial options. With the help of a funeral home’s brochure, you can read up on the variety of options available for you and your family as you seek to celebrate the life of your loved one while mourning their passing in a dignified way.

Brochures are the first piece of literature you should take into consideration during this time. It’s a law in the U.S. that funeral directors must provide a written pricing brochure for anyone who wishes to speak to them about funeral services. In years past, funeral services were a price gouging haven for unscrupulous businesspeople. But today, safeguards are in place to ensure that you aren’t taken advantage of at your most vulnerable.

Many people opt for a traditional burial for their loved ones. After the wake and funeral service or memorial service at your family’s church or another religious center, a burial can serve as a loving goodbye. Alternatively, more and more Americans are choosing to have their remains cremated. Cremation is a long-standing tradition in the United States and all around the world, but it’s becoming more popular as people weigh up their options and decide on a dignified and cost-effective strategy for the celebration of their life.

The best way to understand your loved one’s wishes is to speak with them about their own preferences. Death offers a fine point at the end of a long and happy life on this Earth, but the arrangements we make after we pass are irrevocable in many cases—certainly for those choosing cremation. Many choose to spell out their wishes in a will, but others simply speak with their heirs about how they want to be celebrated and sent off. The best way to get a sense of cremation versus burial is to simply search for “cremation services near me.” This will give you a greater sense of the process and the pricing and availability in your local area.

The passing of a loved one is a somber affair, but it can be a celebration of life if you and your family choose to make it so.