5 stages of grief

The Five Stages of Grief

What are the stages of grief? A search of the internet will turn up articles on 4 stages, 5 stages and even 7 stages of grief. The concept of stages has evolved from the “5 stages of dying” popularized by Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in her book, On Death and Dying, originally published in 1969. According to Dr. Kübler-Ross, the stages that a dying person goes through are: Denial and Isolation — initially the person denies that the situation exists, “It cannot possibly be,” and may withdraw and isolate himself from others.


Coping with Grief after the Death of a Pet

It's Okay to Grieve When a Pet Dies The loss of a pet should never be minimized. Whether the pet was a favorite feline, a faithful dog or even a little turtle, pet loss can spark deep feelings of grief in the people who care for the cherished creature. Even young children experience grief when a pet has died and may act out their sadness. Furthermore, everyone experiences pet loss differently, so there’s no reason to expect specific behaviors from yourself or others.


Good Grief — The Path to Healing from a Loss

Good Grief — The Path to Healing from a Loss 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.


Strategies for Grieving and How To Cope with the Loss of a Pet

Losing a pet is a deeply emotional experience. Our furry friends become integral to our lives, offering unconditional love and companionship. The grief that follows their loss is profound and often equates to losing a family member. Coping with this loss involves navigating through various emotions and finding ways to honor their memory. Here’s a […]


Top 7 Tips for Managing Thank You Notes

Writing thank you notes when you are grieving can seem like an overwhelming challenge. While it can be time-consuming and somewhat difficult, it doesn’t have to be an impossible chore. If tackling the job is something that you just can’t handle on your own, it is perfectly acceptable to enlist the help of a friend […]


Funeral Director or Funeral Celebrant: Do you need both?

Most of us know what wedding officiants do. They work with couples to design the perfect wedding ceremony and then conduct the proceedings. But did you know there are also funeral officiants—professionals who are trained to help plan and conduct funeral ceremonies? These experts are called Funeral Celebrants. What does a Funeral Celebrant do? Funeral […]


Artificially Intelligent (AI) Funeral Planning

It’s a New Frontier in Artificial Intelligence A new generation of artificial intelligence (AI) is all the rage now. AI programs have been used for years, but the latest technological breakthrough is “generative” AI programs. These new AI programs, also known as chatbots, can respond to virtually any query. They can answer questions, hold a […]


Using A Funeral Celebrant: A Growing Movement

Using A Funeral Celebrant: A Growing Movement That’s Catching Hold If you aren’t familiar with the concept of using a professional celebrant to preside at funerals and memorial services, then you aren’t alone. The idea of using a secular professional trained to lead funeral ceremonies isn’t new, but it is a relatively recent phenomenon in […]


Making Funerals More Personal

You may have seen the latest TV ads from a national funeral home chain. The spots feature a motorcycle-themed funeral, a lap around a track for an auto racing fan, and a disco party for a dance lover. These commercials are examples of some very unique final farewells and highlight a new focus on creating […]


Loss of a Pet FAQ

Losing a pet can be a complicated and traumatic experience. Your grief may be complicated by the fact that those you come in contact do not understand the intensity of the pain you are feeling. You should never feel bad because you miss your pet! Our Coping with the Loss of a Pet page has […]


How Much Will Your Funeral Cost? Try Our QuickPlan to Find Out.