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Meaningful Things You Can Do for Someone Who is Grieving

Life is full of ups and downs. There are moments of success, and then there are moments of failure or grief. But nothing is sadder than a loved one leaving us forever; the loss is an irreparable one.

Memories associated with them are fresh in our minds, and it becomes very tough to let go. Due to this internal pain, stress hormones are released into the body. The effect of these hormones causes an increase in mental distress and instability in the mind, and it becomes tough to overcome these. When someone you know is in grief, their professional life also takes a hit as they are not able to concentrate on their work. However, if you can take some thoughtful actions, it can offer relief to your friend or relative.

Below we have some meaningful things you can do for someone who is grieving, to not only relieve their pain but to also help them lead a normal life.

Stay in Touch With the Person

It is a bitter fact that nothing in the world can take the place of the person who is no more. However, your support and support from friends and family can help your friend overcome this indispensable loss to an extent. The follow-up period after the death of a loved one is a crucial time. During this phase, the bereaved requires the utmost care and attention of their close ones. Therefore, you can try staying connected to them through frequent phone calls and visits. This will help them share thoughts and also divert their mind temporarily.

Keep the Person Physically Active

Help your friend stay physically active by involving them in some activities or tasks. For example, to divert their mind, you can make them participate in household chores such as grocery shopping, cooking, and pet care. Playing outdoor sports with them such as basketball, cricket, etc., can also keep them fit and active. Yoga and meditation are other effective ways to help declutter your friend’s mind and cope in adverse situations.

Connect the Person With Nature

Nature and fresh air revitalize and calm a person. Taking your buddy outside the house for a long walk or a long drive can ease their feeling of isolation and sadness. Besides, activities such as gardening and watering the plants also soothe their mind and generate positive energy.

Help to Commemorate the Deceased

Memorialize the person who is no more. You can make him write a poem in memory of the deceased or even get a photograph of them together framed. This reflects the love and affection towards the deceased and helps your pal and their relatives recall the good memories they shared.

Listen More, Talk Less

The loss of a loved one leaves people devastated. Sometimes the most meaningful thing you can do for someone who is grieving is give them complete space to talk freely and express their thoughts. All your pal needs is a patient and calm listener. Sometimes just listening can provide significant relief to the individual.

Deliver Some Thoughtful Tokens

Losing a person close to your heart is the hardest thing to overcome. Nothing can compensate for it. However, sending some thoughtful tokens to your friend in the form of food or flowers along with a message note showing care and love depicts emotional gestures for them.

If you want to know more about meaningful things you can do for someone who is grieving, contact our experts at Found and Sons Funeral Chapels and Cremation Service.

How to Manage Grief During the Holidays

When a loved one passes away, the hole in your heart that developed as a result of that person’s absence becomes substantially more noticeable around the holidays. You may feel unable to process the holiday joy happening all around you and feel guilty if you do start to enjoy yourself. Intellectually, you know that your dearly departed would want you to enjoy yourself, but emotionally you can’t snap out of the sadness and loss. This year, use these tips to help you manage grief during the holidays healthily and respectfully.

1. Incorporate the Loved One Into the Celebrations

When someone moves on, they don’t leave our hearts and minds. Feel free to casually, and in a celebratory and positive manner, talk about the deceased at appropriate times. Also, if you had holiday traditions with your loved one, you should maintain those traditions to hold on to their memory.

Humorous stories and looking at old pictures can give you the chance to look back at the joyful moments you shared fondly.

Read the room as you talk to ensure that you aren’t causing anyone to feel old wounds again, especially if it was a recent loss. If you notice everyone appears comfortable, you can continue as you deem appropriate.

2. Express Yourself

It’s not healthy to keep your grief, loneliness, and cynicism inside of yourself boiling up to the point that it explodes.

Productively express any influx of emotions. You can write your feelings down in a diary, write a song, paint a picture, or just let yourself cry. When you express your feelings, it releases them from inside of you. Many people feel a sense of relief or a weight removed from their shoulders. Without the heavy emotional baggage, you can allow yourself to replace those negative feelings with new, positive ones.

3. Establish a Support System

You probably aren’t the only person missing someone this holiday.

Talk to the people around you to find people who can offer emotional support. If possible, create a support system out of people who also loved the same person you did so that you can share stories and relate to each other.

Not all of us have the best support system built into the people around us. If that’s the case for you, you can find support in the form of a support group or therapy. Professional grief counselors can teach you specific methods on how to deal with your grief and prescribe medication if the situation caused a hormonal imbalance.

You are not alone. Found and Sons Funeral Chapels Cremation Service offers grief and healing services to help you get through the holiday season.

Contact a professional counselor today for more information on all of our services, including funeral services and cremation. Taking care of the details will give you more time to celebrate your loved one this holiday season.

What To Consider When Choosing Between Cremation or Burial

When planning ahead for end-of-life preparations, or making arrangements following the loss of a loved one, many families struggle with choosing between cremation or a traditional burial. Here are some things to consider that may help make the choice easier.

The Difference Between Cremation and Burial

Both cremation and burial practices have been in existence for centuries as a method of final disposition. During the cremation process, a body is incinerated until all that remains is ash. Whereas during a burial, the body is allowed to naturally decompose over time. Both are common and safe methods of handling remains.

With burials, the body may be interred in the ground or entombed in a mausoleum above ground. Bodies are embalmed before being placed in a casket. At Found and Sons Funeral Chapels & Cremation Service, we require caskets to be enclosed in a burial vault to prevent the ground from sinking.

Cremated remains, on the other hand, can be kept in an urn, scattered in a way that is meaningful to the deceased, placed in a columbarium, interred in the ground, or entombed in a mausoleum. Some religious practices may require that the cremated remains are kept together and stored or displayed in an approved location.

Both cremation and burial processes can take place at any time. For example, shortly after the deceased has passed away, after a traditional funeral service has taken place, or before a memorial service.

Consider the Deceased’s Wishes and Religious Affiliation

The choice between cremation or burial is often deeply personal. For example, some families prefer to choose burial out of a desire to show respect for their loved one’s body. Other families feel that allowing the body to decay has the opposite impact. This is why making pre-planning arrangements and having these conversations with family members is often so important.

Many religions have differing views on cremation and burials. The Roman Catholic Church has stated that bodies may be cremated, but the ashes must be buried in a cemetery or sacred location. Some Christian denominations (incl. Baptist and the Eastern Orthodox Church) do not support cremation, while others such as the Methodist Seventh-Day Adventists and Lutheran churches do. Judaism has traditionally recommended against cremation, although some sects have relaxed their stance over the years.

Alternatively, cremation is a required practice for some Eastern religions (Hinduism and Buddhism). Sikhs tend to prefer cremation, but do not prohibit burial, while Muslim cultures forbid cremation.

Additional Factors to Consider

Religious beliefs and personal preference are perhaps some of the most important things to consider when choosing between cremation and burial. However, there are other things to keep in mind as well, such as cost and environmental impact. Cremation is typically a more cost-effective service compared to burial.

When it comes to the environment, there are different points of view. The cremation process results in high emissions; however, burials require a significantly larger footprint of land.

Still struggling to choose? We understand, and we’re here to help. Our professional team can walk you through the pre-planning process, one step at a time, and help you choose the options that work best for you. Visit our website to learn more about our services, or call (800) 207-3530 for one-on-one assistance.

How to Honor Veterans and Their Families

You might know that November 11th is Veteran’s Day, which is celebrated every year in America to honor those who’ve served their country. But did you know that the entirety of November is also related to veterans? Or, more specifically, their families.

November is Military Family Month—a time to acknowledge and recognize the sacrifices our military families make alongside their veterans. Wondering how to honor our veterans and their families? Below are a few simple things you can do to show your gratitude and support.

Ways to Honor Your Veterans

Thank a Veteran

There are around 19 million veterans in the U.S. right now, and while you can’t thank all of them, you can certainly make the veterans in your life feel appreciated. Even if it’s an active-duty military member you pass on the street, take the time to thank them. You can even send a letter or postcard to a veteran, or if you don’t know one, send it to the closest military installation.

Listen to Their Stories

Being a veteran is something that non-veterans likely won’t understand, but you can still offer to listen. Some veterans might be hesitant to share their stories, especially if they were active in combat. But if a veteran offers to speak, listen. Ask them questions if they’re willing to answer (remember to be sensitive and respectful) and give them your full attention.

Donate

There are several organizations that are dedicated to helping veterans. Check here for some ideas on where you can donate.

Visit a VA Hospital or Senior Living Community

Find out where your nearest VA hospital or senior living community that houses veterans is, and check their policies. If you can, spend a day with a veteran, or attend any events they might have. You can even volunteer at the facility to help.

Ways to Honor Military Families

Veterans deserve an abundance of support, but so do their families. Here are some ways you can show your appreciation this Military Family Month.

Offer Your Time

Military spouses experience a lot of changes and struggles—frequent moves, deployments, caring for their family, and more. So if you can offer your time in any capacity, by babysitting or running errands, it can help give them a breather.

Donate on Their Behalf

Donating to a veterans’ charity on behalf of a military family is a great way to show them that you care and are willing to support them.

Perform a Random Act of Kindness

Take the time out of your day to perform an act of kindness. It can be anonymous, like writing them a thank you note or leaving them a care package. Or, you can thank them publicly on social media and recognize their sacrifice.

Ask Them How You Can Help

The easiest way to know how to help a military family? Ask them what they need, and do your best to provide it, whether it’s a listening ear, help with the chores, or anything else.

You don’t have to wait until November to honor veterans and their families. At Found and Sons Funeral Chapel and Cremation Services, we recognize and are always grateful for the huge sacrifices our veterans make everyday. To learn more, take a look at our Veteran’s Services or contact us today.

How To Write A Memorable Obituary

An obituary is a touching way to announce the death of a loved one and celebrate their life’s accomplishments. However, many family members find it difficult to write an obituary, especially if grief is creating writer’s block. Here are some tips that can help make the process smooth and ensure that your loved one’s memory is celebrated.

Set the Tone

There are many things to do when a loved one passes away and it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Pre-planning the funeral details can help alleviate some of the stress associated with loss. Grief support resources can help family members understand and process emotions.

Before you sit down to write the obituary, take time to set the tone. Do your best to remove any distractions, light your favorite candle if you’d like, and spend some time in meditation or prayer before you begin. This can help create space for meaningful reflection rather than checking off an item on the to-do list. Typing the obituary helps prevent any mistakes during posting, but many people choose to write the first draft by hand.

Start With the Basics

An obituary typically starts by listing the basic information about the deceased, such as when they were born, the date they passed, and any other relevant biographical information (Where did they live? Where did they go to school? What was their career like?).

Include a list of surviving family members, as well as any notable predeceased family members. You don’t need to include the entire family tree, but these people should be listed by name:

Parents
Their spouse/partner
Any children or step-children—along with their spouse/partner’s names in brackets, if applicable
Siblings, including half- and step-siblings
Grandchildren and great-grandchildren
Surviving in-laws, if relevant

If you’d like to highlight any additional family members, you can group them together by relationship—such as “five nieces, and two nephews.” People with very large families may choose to do this for grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well.

You may also want to include any notable information, such as the date of the service, a memorial donation fund, or anything else you’d like the public to know.

Add Some of Their Personality

Personality quirks are often what make your loved one who they are, so don’t be afraid to showcase that in their obituary. Make it personal by sharing their passions and hobbies. Don’t just focus on what they did in their life, talk about what their life was like, too. Be mindful of the length, however—many newspaper publications charge by the word. You may want to have a formal announcement for the paper and a more personal obituary for the funeral service.

Don’t Forget to Proofread

As with any important writing, don’t forget to proofread! Have someone else look it over, or run it through an online spelling and grammar program such as Grammarly.

At Found and Sons Funeral Chapel and Cremation Services, our goal is to help you navigate the end of your loved one’s life. We strive to make it a time of reflection, appreciation, and celebration, so that we may help you honor and preserve your loved one’s memory. Visit our website to learn more about our services or call (800) 207-3530 today.