What should you not put in a eulogy?

rose-pink-colors-3202080_640If you’ve been tasked to deliver a eulogy in the funeral services, you are most likely close to the one who passed away. As such, your goal is to deliver the best eulogy speech to pay tribute to your deceased loved one. It is perfectly normal to worry about how to write a eulogy because you don’t want to make mistakes. Since funerals are fraught with dark emotion, you don’t want your words to result in more sadness, hurt feelings, resentment, or even anger. As such, it is vital to do some careful preparation when you’re writing your eulogy.

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What is the most played song at a funeral

rose-pink-colors-3202080_640Though planning a loved one’s funeral services can be a daunting task, you can make it an extra memorable event with the right music. After all, music is not just sound. It is in itself a universal language that’s renowned for soothing the soul. In fact, it is so powerful that it can transcend languages. Read more

Sympathy Messages For The Loss of a Mother

rose-pink-colors-3202080_640One of the most important figures in people’s lives is their mother. No individual will be here today without her. The depth of a mother’s love is unconditional. Her sacrifices in bearing and bringing her children into this world fosters a unique bond with them. When people lose their mother, they are in for a rough journey and a devastating time. The connection between children and their mother is incomparable. Read more

What to Write in a Sympathy Card When You Don’t Know the Deceased

rose-pink-colors-3202080_640Regardless of whether you know the deceased or not, death always has a way of leaving us at a loss for words. Gathering your thoughts and writing down to express your condolences on paper is never easy. Though you don’t know the deceased, you are doing this act of kindness for the ones left behind who feel a massive loss over the death of their beloved.

Mustering up the words to show your sympathies for those in mourning is very challenging. However, don’t let your apprehension deter you from giving a sympathy card during the funeral ceremonies. It may be difficult to find the right words to say, especially if you don’t know the deceased personally, but it is not an impossible task to accomplish. If you need a burst of inspiration, consider the following ideas, to help you finish writing your sympathy card. Read more

What to Give To a Neighbor Who Lost a Loved One

sad womanIt is difficult for many of us to come to terms with the death of a loved one. It is in trying times like these where we need the support of relatives and friends. If your neighbor has recently lost someone dear to them, your concern and help would greatly be appreciated. One way to “show up” after the funeral services is through the act of giving, which demonstrates that you genuinely care. If you are feeling uncertain about what to gift to a grieving neighbor, here are some suggestions that can brighten up their day:

Provide Snacks and Meals

For many, the grief that accompanies the loss of a loved one is very draining. Usually, mourning family members have little energy left to go about daily chores like preparing meals. One way you can help your grieving neighbor is by giving food. Prepare some snacks or hot meals and dishes that suit their palate. Not only do you eliminate their need to cook, but you also give them more quiet time to mourn. Food is not just for nourishing the belly, but it serves as a comfort for the soul. Read more

How to Cope With the Loss of a Child

8219632453_e3f5089584We all know that it is burdensome when people have to prepare funeral services for their kin. This task becomes even more difficult when a parent has to bury a child. Such a tragic notion goes against the natural law of life. After all, younger children are always expected to outlive their much older parents. Anyone who has gone through this heartbreaking experience will tell you that when a child dies, a part of your adult spirit dies along with them.

Death in itself takes a toll on those who are left grieving, most especially if the life that is lost was born from your own flesh and blood. Nothing can ever prepare a parent for this tragic fate. Though it seems unlikely as the circle of life opposes this concept, sadly, losing a child can still happen. How then, are parents supposed to cope when the unthinkable happens? Here are some suggestions to help you and your kin move on from the death of your most beloved child. Read more

How Long Should a Eulogy Be?

rose-pink-colors-3202080_640One of the most difficult speeches you will ever have to make in your life is called a eulogy. This is your last tribute to a deceased love one. The term eulogy has roots from the Greek word “εὐλογία,” which is defined as praise. It is comprised of words to honor your loved ones who passed away. It is usually delivered during the funeral or memorial services. Read more

What to Give a Grieving Family

candle in the darkThe death of a loved one is an unimaginable loss for many of us. The unfathomable uncertainty of death and the pain it leaves in the hearts of the bereaved leaves a void that cannot be filled. The gloominess and melancholy that ensue can be turbulent for the family and friends of the dead. To alleviate the heaviness of the atmosphere and reach out to the mourning individuals long after the funeral services are over, you may give them gifts and presents. Though this will not measure up to the gravity of their loss, at least you might, in some small way, make them feel a tiny bit better. Here are a few things that you can gift to people who mourn the demise of a loved one. Read more

How Do You Start a Eulogy

person reading a bookIf you were tasked to give a eulogy during the memorial or funeral services, you are given this honor because you have a close relationship with the deceased. A eulogy is a speech that you say about your beloved who passed away. A few people find this painful to do, especially if it is a sudden death or the one who died is still too young. When a direct family member finds it difficult to control their emotions, you may be tasked to deliver a eulogy on their behalf. Read more

How Can Death Affect a Family

We have all lost someone near and dear to us to a thief called death. Sadly, dying is an inevitable part of life that no one can escape. Apart from the pain directly caused by the loss, planning a funeral can take its toll on the immediate family. It is hard to write the death announcement, along with figuring out the details of the ceremony.

Whether it is a long term illness or a sudden demise, death is difficult to accept, and healing will take time. Losing a loved one has the potential to affect the lives of the bereaved greatly. It manifests in the physical and emotional aspects, sometimes with a lasting impact. Read on to understand how death can affect a family and why it is important to be kind, patient, supportive, and understanding to those who are grieving.

1. Children grow up without knowing their loved one

When a person experiences losing a loved one as a child, this can have many long term psychological effects. A child who has lost a mother or father will grow up with a missing piece because of the absence of one parental figure. This can lead to personal issues like self-identity crisis and difficulty establishing healthy relationships with people.

Studies show that children who were not able to process the death of a parent properly grow up with abandonment issues. They search for love and comfort elsewhere. They look for substitutes and may end up in the wrong relationship. Guidance is paramount for those who lose a parental figure to ensure that kids grow up in the right direction.

2. Can cause strain on relationships

Grief-stricken people often need time to process pain and emotion correctly. If the grief is not managed and handled properly, this can lead a person to feel heavy issues and volatile feelings that become an emotional baggage. One who cannot move on from the death of a family member may have difficulty maintaining other relationships because of emotional instability.

When one is moody or depressed, it can lead to withdrawal. This can, in turn, cause miscommunication and misunderstandings. Unfortunately, these things have the power to create rifts in family ties and can even sever relationships. The death of a loved one has the potential to divide a family without proper grief management. This can be avoided if a family consults a specialist or copes through healthy methods like holding open discussions or dialogues to provide an avenue for emotional expression.

3. May affect the lifestyle

There is no doubt that a family member’s death can drastically alter the household’s routine, priorities, and overall lifestyle. To many, losing a family member will cause a significant change in family dynamics, particularly if the deceased is the household’s breadwinner. How do you pay for your mortgage and basic needs when no one is earning? This poses a difficulty to grieving family members since it would mean making adjustments in spending habits and lifestyle choices.

In addition, this also means rearranging schedules and changing routines, which many bereaved family members find challenging to do. If the missing family member is used to picking up the children to and from school, who will be tasked to do it now that the person is gone? The life of the ones left behind is forever altered when their loved one passes on. As such, it is crucial to have a good support system. If you know someone in a similar situation, now is the time to offer a helping hand.

4. Posses a huge financial burden

Burials and cremation services cost a large sum of money. For many families around the world, this expenditure is too big a cost to bear. Often, people are caught off guard when someone dies, so they are ill-prepared. Families are shattered financially by a loved one’s death, especially if they find cannot afford it. Those who do not have insurance plans find themself using up their savings. This leaves the bereaved with a heavy financial burden that can strain their lifestyle and relationships with one another.

With this in mind, the heads of families need to perform proper planning, which involves getting the right insurance coverage, conducting estate management, and procuring funeral investments ahead. When you plan for the future, you secure your family in case of an emergency or other unforeseen circumstances. The last thing any person should be worrying about when someone dies is the financial aspect so that they can grieve in peace!

Final Word

It is normal for family members to react differently when they experience a closed loved one’s death. As individuals try to cope with changing roles, it can result in complicated emotions and untoward behavior. While each person is going through their journey, it can be difficult to connect with one another. The important thing to remember is always a beacon of hope that will readily offer support during these trying times.