Q. I just attended an event where I briefly met a colleague whose 18-year-old daughter died in a drowning accident four years ago. I meant to send a condolence note at the time. But I never did, and I’ve always felt so guilty about it. Is it out of the question to send a note to her now? If it isn’t, what should I write?

I’ve always said it’s never too late…

I can't believe it will be four month soon since my big brother Paul end his life. Does it get easier. I still cry. I just wish he was here. I wish he would be here when and if I found someone to marry so he could walk me down the aisle but it not going to happen. I am still in a fog life goes on each day but it will never be the same without my big bro. Paul you are missed and loved so dearly everyday

Q. How can you respond to people who say dumb things to you after your husband has died? A woman I barely know called two days after I was widowed and said, “Don’t worry. You’re going to be just fine.” I felt so angry at her. How could she possibly know what I was going through and what my life ahead would be like? I just bit my tongue and said nothing, but it’s aggravated me ever since. Is there a better way to cope with such statements?

I think you…

I haven’t posted anything for a few days. I’m setting here at home having crying spells and feeling like I’m dieing. I’m looking at Marqs pictures and feeling an emptiness in my soul. I still cant believe that Marq is gone and on top of that I am trying to greave for my mom to. She past away on 1-18-13 and Marq past away on 2-24-13. I miss them so so bad and I feel like I don’t know how to live with out them. I don’t want to watch anything on TV or do anything. I just feel so empty without…

this is a different kind of loss.  My job will be ending in a couple of months.  I have let it settle in, that this is coming.  I have slowly, gathered my thoughts about this and prayed.  Am currently praying to St. Joseph The Worker, (for employment).  I still am having a hard time wanting to look for a job, now that I have to.  I was looking for a job since I was starting after 2 1/2 years getting to the point where I felt was not learning much more and where to learn more.  Almost kind of…

Funeral and memorial services can be “by the book” with very little personal input or take-aways for friends and family, but, increasingly, eulogies may include some pointers on moving forward.

Here are some examples of how obituaries and memorial services speak to us and what we can learn.

Be an organ donor!

A celebration for the life of …

Last week my friend supported a dear friend whose father died. The dad had Alzheimer’s disease and had been failing for some time. But his condition had quickly worsened and he died unexpectedly.

My friend attended the funeral and funeral reception and since the family is Jewish, she helped organize and attended the Shiva. She was quite surprised by some of the behavior and questions that hurt both her…

Grief is an introspective journey from the darkness of loss to the light of renewal.

The caption below highlights some of the states of being and emotions a mourner may experience. I have the word RENEWAL in the largest size font because that is your goal – to reach for a renewal of your life and the ability to let love and joy…

With my partner for life

joined at my hip,

Planned for our future

And our golden trip.

We had the blueprint

Prepared just right,

In a few years

Our path in sight.

Together we'd be

Enjoying a good life,

Seeing the world

As husband and wife.

But alas not to be

He willed it to end,

Does not make sense

His call to ascend.

She's with Him now

Lonely am I,

Know she's…

I want to say Im so sorry you have lost 2 sons within 2 yrs.I know you hate me but I dont care I still cannot imagine how you feel God is with you he must be for you to survive all this.Hope all is well with Michel and you.I think about you all the time.Kathi Corbett I dont care if you erase me or not I still care about you and still grieving and still miss Dana the person that loved and cared deeply for me.

My name is Steven,

I lost my life partner Marq of 21 years to cancer. He was diagnosed in 2009 with neck cancer and had to have part of his neck removed. He was in an experimental medication study and tried over six different chemo’s. He fought his cancer for almost four years until this February when he started to loose even more weight and become confused and quiet. I took him in to the emergency room of the local hospital and they ran a lot of test. The doctor came in and said that…

Losing my spouse was my worst nightmare. I feel lost, alone and don't know how to re-invent myself into a single person. I managed all things medical, cooked and cared all our days together. Now what do I do to carry on alone?  I am trying to stay distracted but each day is longer than the next and of course nightime is terrible. I don't want to do anything we did as a couple. 

When I worked in education our office had a “Sunshine Committee.” All the money collected from coffee sales went into a sunshine fund. Any staff member sick, hospitalized, in treatment, or bereaved received a floral arrangement from the Sunshine Committee and the committee members sent cards too. The thoughtfulness from the Sunshine Committee permeated…

My son's anniversary is comming up.Oh how it hurts.I went to his house and felt his Spirit all over me.I dont believe in the dead comming back but I do believe in the Holy Spirit.Maybe My Lord almighty allowed me to feel my son.I miss him so much.I still cant believe you are gone.I feel like a zombie in this world.The shock of my life.What keeps me going is the love of my…