Good Grief
Grief is the natural reaction to losing a loved one — grieving is also the road to healing from a loss. The funeral facilitates this process. It helps loved ones face the reality of the loss. It helps them to say good-bye. It helps them reestablish a support network.
We usually deal with the death of a loved one by going through various phases or stages. The process takes a grieving person from the intellectual understanding that someone has died to emotional acceptance of the fact. Healing from grief can be a productive emotional process that leads to a fuller, richer understanding of life.
See The Stages of Grief for a discussion of the grief process.
Our guidance is organized in the following topics:
When you're grieving for a loved one:
Helping others deal with grief:
Helping Others
Death of an Infant
Death of a Child
Accidental Death
Terminal Illness
Supporting Children
Death of a Spouse
Suicide
More Thoughts on Grief