Losing anyone you love is extremely difficult, but it is especially devastating and overwhelming when faced with the loss of a baby. Whether the loss occurs during pregnancy, or after the baby is born, parents and loved ones lose not only the precious little one, but also their hopes and dreams for the future. Such a loss can forever...
When someone you know loses a loved one to death, a common reaction is to send a sympathy card. But once it’s purchased, what do you write inside? Do you have the perfect words of comfort? Will you accidentally say the wrong thing? Writing a sympathy note isn’t easy, but it is important. You can’t make someone’s grief and...
by Dr. Alan Wolfelt
Though you should reach out to others as you do the work of mourning, you should not feel obligated to accept the unhelpful responses you may receive from some people. You are the one who is grieving, and as such, you have certain “rights” no one should try to take away from you.
The following list is...
by Lauryl Ivers, chaplain
Grief touches every part of us. We feel it in relationships with our families, friends, co-workers and in our hearts and minds—even in our bodies.
My mother died under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley a few years ago. The Hospice team was so helpful for me and my family. I am thankful I...
by David Montecuollo, chaplain
“Today is a day that will live in agony!” Though these words many times go unspoken, they are often felt by a person or family who has lost a loved one. No matter the manner or cause of death, there is one commonality among people who lose a loved one, they grieve. In my lifetime, I...
by Stephanie Pritchard, LAPC, NCC, bereavement specialist
It is not uncommon for people to question whether they or someone they know is depressed after the death of a loved one. For most people, the emotional, mental and physical symptoms experienced after a death can be attributed to normal grief. However, this is not always the case. It is important to...
by Connie DeKrey, BSW, LSW, CT
This time of year, we are inundated by the media with suggestions for changes we can make to greatly improve our lives in the new year. Talk shows tout weight loss strategies sure to trim us, magazines promote products and plans to perfectly organize our spaces, fitness gurus guide us to exercise nirvana, and...
The following is an excerpt from, The Journey Through Grief and Loss: Helping Yourself and Your Child When Grief Is Shared (St. Martin’s Press), by Robert Zucker. Published with permission.
Learning to move forward after loss is more about finding peace than about establishing closure. Perhaps, as you read this, the crisis in your life seems to have subsided a...
By Janna Kontz
My Dad was an amazing man. He had an eighth-grade education, but he never allowed that to hold him back. He was incredibly intelligent and loved to be challenged by things like serving on the school board and church council and being District Governor of the Lions. He was great at math and helped all of...
By Connie DeKrey, Bereavement Specialist
“He served on the honor guard…”
“Would you do me the honor of…”
“Honor thy father and mother…”
We hear the word “honor” used from time to time, and it usually pertains to something significant—an event or emotion. It can also be used to show high regard for a relationship. In this article, I have offered some thoughts...
