The Grieving Process

Grief can be experienced after numerous events – the end of a relationship, the loss of a job or even a geographical relocation when friends and family must be left behind.  Of course, the most significant cause of grief is the death of a loved one.  Like many emotional reactions to major life events, grieving is an individual process that each person works through in their own way.  Funeral directors can provide helpful funeral products and services during a client family’s time of grief which aid in the process.

There are five stages of grief that most people tend to go through, although, as stated above, grief is a very personal experience and some people may not go through every stage.  Timing spent on each stage, intensity of emotions and the depth of the relationship will all impact the grieving process.
The first stage is denial.  Rejecting the truth and instead insisting to oneself of even others that the death has not occurred is a typical reaction during denial. 

Anger typically follows denial in the grieving process.  Survivors can feel angry at God, at physicians, at other survivors, at themselves, or even at the deceased.  As anger is diffused, it yields to the next stage, bargaining.  This describes the irrational action of trying to “make a deal” with God, doctors, etc. and most often entails promises to change behavior to get the deceased back, or to substitute the survivor’s life for their loved one who has died.

Funeral professionals are able to help the bereaved during these first two stages simply by holding a funeral service for their client family.  If a loved one has died and it is impossible for a family or friend to attend in person, a funeral director can offer funeral webcasting.  A webcast enables others to attend the funeral online to see and hear family members, the service and the deceased which can provide a unique way for closure to those in mourning.

The final two stages of grief are depression and finally acceptance.  The death has become a reality and that realization can be a harsh truth.  During this stage it is particularly important that the bereaved surround themselves with a supportive network of people who have been through something similar or who are grieving the same person.  

Funeral keepsakes can also provide support to client families during these stages of the grieving process.  Keepsakes can be created in forms of personalized funeral candles and holiday remembrance ornaments, DVD tribute videos, prayer cards – the list of unique keepsakes is endless.  Creating a personalized keepsake for family and friends to cherish and to memorialize their loved one can be helpful in the final stages of grief.  While the sadness over the loss of a person will never completely disappear, a keepsake helps them reflect, remember and celebrate their loved ones life as the death is at long last accepted. 

Frazer Consultants primary products and services include interactive funeral home website design, funeral tribute video software, funeral webcasting, funeral candles, funeral keepsakes, funeral register books, personalized funeral stationery, temporary grave markers and funeral holiday remembrance ornaments.  For more information, please visit http://www.frazerconsultants.com or call 866-372-9372.