Trinity Memorial Gardens

Composing a sympathy card for a friend or family member who has lost a loved one is never easy. We put pressure on ourselves to find the perfect way to express our sorrow. We wonder what the best way to bring comfort and healing is. We worry that we will unintentionally say the wrong thing. Even though this task always poses a unique challenge, it is crucial to still reach out to the grieving family to express your sympathy. While no words will ever be perfect and cannot take away the pain of losing a loved one, they can go a long way towards helping those grieving feel supported and loved.    Here are a few tips to consider that will help you write a beautiful and meaningful sympathy card and enable you to share your heartfelt caring with someone who is going through the most difficult period imaginable.   Acknowledge Their Feelings Helping to validate the loved one's sadness in your message can help them get through a very overwhelming time. Expressing things like "This...

For more than two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought an overwhelming amount of grief to millions of people worldwide. If you or someone or someone you know has been battling this deadly virus, circumstances always seem bleak and hopeless. Not only are you worried about their health and wellbeing, but countless people have also asked themselves, "How are we going to afford to pay for all of this medical care?" It's a painful question that shouldn't have to be asked during this difficult time. Fortunately, organizations like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) help people before, during, and after disasters. They are dedicated, especially during this unprecedented pandemic, to helping ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by this virus.   According to FEMA , under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA provides financial assistance for COVID-19 related fune...

While a traditional funeral service can be the perfect way to honor the deceased for some families, others feel that this service is dated and cold. But even traditional services can be customized to reflect the passions, personality, and style of the loved one that has passed away.    Today, several unique and creative funerals and memorial services are being performed. Since the options for memorial ideas are practically endless, it can seem overwhelming to plan an appropriate service, especially with the pain and grief you are already feeling from losing a loved one. To help you work through this process, we've highlighted a few interesting memorial service ideas for you and your family to consider as you plan to celebrate the beautiful life of the deceased.   Display Photos and Stories According to The Living Urn , most families like having pictures of their loved ones present at a memorial service, and the more, the better! Photo boards or photos on stands and tables...

Teenagers and children express their grief in several different ways. While some may express sadness and verbalize their emotions like most adults, some may instead show occasional pain for short periods. Depending on their ages, children may also complain of physical discomforts, such as headaches or stomach aches, or they may be experiencing challenges in activities that once gave them joy and comfort, such as school or sports.  Be Honest The National Alliance for Children's Grief encourages discussing the tragic event of death with your child in a simple, direct, and age-appropriate manner. For example, Cancer.net states that infants under the age of two do not understand the concept of death but understand that there is a separation involved between them and their deceased loved one. School-age children (ages 6 to 12) realize that death is a final state; they understand that death happens to everyone and can't be avoided and may experience guilt, shame, and anxiety about ...

Grief, defined as the emotional suffering you feel when someone you love is taken away, is a natural response to loss. In most cases, the pain of that loss can be overwhelming, as it's common to experience a variety of unexpected and challenging emotions. In addition to feeling emotionally vulnerable, the grieving process can significantly disrupt your physical health, making it difficult to eat, sleep, or even think rationally.  Yes, coping with the loss of someone you loved and cherished is one of life's biggest challenges. But finding healthy ways to cope with the unspeakable sadness that comes with grief is essential for you to ease the pain in time. Finding a healthy way to address and cope with loss is the best way to find new meaning and, over time, move on with your life.   Here are a few ways you can deal with your grief in a healthy and manageable way:   Accept and Acknowledge Your Grief It's common for us to automatically say "I'm fine." or "I ...

When you think of the word "undertaker," do you think of a sinister and mysterious character from a Charles Dickens story? Do you see a figure wearing a dark hood and lurking in the shadows, waiting to do some dastardly deed? You're probably not alone in making that assumption; after all, when it comes to planning a funeral, the word "undertaker" might not be a term you often encounter. It probably makes you think you're a character in a 19th-century tale! Cake.com explains how the term undertaker first came to be - during the Civil War, undertakers followed armies, and they did NOT have a good reputation. While they referred to themselves as doctors, no formal medical training was required to embalm a body or bury it at that time. In 1917, a small number of American undertakers organized a group called the National Selected Morticians. They undertook a "rebranding," if you will, and changed commonly used terminology to help others see their profe...

“I don’t know if I should go.” It’s something that many people say to themselves when it comes to attending a funeral. It’s a sensitive subject that must be treated delicately, and the rules of etiquette around funeral attendance can be confusing. Not only must your personal relationship to the deceased and their family be considered, but given the current state of the world and the ongoing pandemic, the state of your current health and the potential risk you pose to others must also be considered. Your friends at Trinity Memorial Gardens have come up with a quick reference guide for you to use if you are asking yourself “Should I go?” before an upcoming funeral.    When You Should Attend the Funeral  According to Funeral Wise , a general rule of thumb is that you should attend a funeral if the deceased is a close friend or family member, the bereaved is a close friend or family member, or you want to show support for the person’s loved ones. You should also attend the fu...