Death and funeral homes Willoughby Hills, OH, are painful realities of life. Want it or not, every one of us comes across the time when a close friend is grieving the loss of a loved one. At that moment, we want to cheer them up, point out the optimism in their lives, make them feel relieved and smile again, and come back to a normal routine.

But it is equally possible to feel helpless if you don’t know how to help someone you love through grief. Many people utter inappropriate words though inadvertently that may spark uncomfortable feelings or make the grieving person feel invalidated.

Want to offer meaningful support and help to your bereaved friend? Here are some simple ways to do that.

1. Understand Five Stages of Grief

Grief is not a single emotion nor does it follow a linear path. Rather it is a mix of various feelings and emotions. According to psychologists, a grieving person experiences five stages of grief namely:

Denial

Bargaining

Anger

Anxiety

Depression

Acceptance of the loss.

You have to understand which phase your close acquaintance is passing through and once you’re familiar with these stages, you are in a better position to comfort your friend.

2. Grief is Not Predictable

Even though almost everyone passes through the above five stages of grief, one person’s grief is not the same as another’s. It varies from person to person mostly and depends on how closely the bereaved was attached to the deceased and how strong their relationship was.

Thus, never try to make guesses about their inner feelings and instead, make sure you acknowledge their pain and be considerate in having conversations with them. Give them all the emotional support they need.

3. Show Them Ways to Honor the Loved One’s Memory

For a grieving person, the memory of the deceased matters the most. Do your basic research and let them know of the unique ways to personalize and celebrate the memory of the lost loved one. A few tips can be:

• Plant a tree
• Write letters
• Arrange remembrance dinners,
• Doing charity work or volunteer in their name

Such activities would expedite the healing process.

4. Keep Checking on Them

Grieving can last from a few weeks to several months. Many people offer condolences at the funeral services and move on with their lives. But as a friend, you should keep in touch with them and never leave them alone for long particularly if they’re experiencing depression or complicated grief.

A simple phone call will just take two minutes but can provide untold comfort and satisfaction to your friend. Offer them help and ask what they need. Generally, the mourner will resist help but at least, let them know you will be there when needed.

5. Indulge in Healthy Activities

Never let your friend isolate himself for extended periods as it can further plunge them into depression. Instead, encourage them to play their favorite sports and indulge in healthy and fun activities.

In this way, you would carve a permanent place in their heart and also help them overcome anxiety and depression.

The grief journey begins before you contact funeral homes Willoughby Hills, OH.

Funeral homes Mentor, OH, are part of the grief journey. During the holidays, many people miss their dads. Nothing is more painful and depressing than losing your father no matter how old are you. A father is like a guiding light that shows us the right way and even the joyous occasion of Christmas can become a distressing day for someone grieving the loss of a father.

No activity can indeed bring him back but here are some ideas that will help you can make his presence felt and honor him on this special day.

1. Write Him a Letter from Heart

Wake up and write a letter to his name and tell everything that your heart says. Write about your accomplishments, success, and how much you miss him. Every son or daughter loves to hug their father and say how much they love and appreciate his care and life lessons. But, there are always a lot of unsaid words that you wanted him to hear.

And even if he has gone for a while, there is so much new in your life that you would like to share with him to make him proud. Your letter is a symbol of unending love for your lost dad and how you’d never be able to repay all his sacrifices for you.

2. Listen to Your Dad’s Favorite Songs

Take out time and make a playlist of songs that remind you of your dad; songs that you would love to listen to together with him. Music heals our minds and soul.

We all have memories of listening to our favorite songs while on a family trip or at weekends at the home or when we were depressed and needed cheering up. Listening to these songs will honor his memory and reminisce the golden memories of his childhood.

3. Plant a Tree in His Name

Want to honor his memory? Why not plant a tree in his name on this auspicious day!

Trees symbolize life and have wise spirits that make us feel relieved in their presence. Planting a tree in the name of your dad will keep his memory alive forever. It will remind you of your dad whenever you sit in its shade, walk by it, or water it – and is the perfect way to honor and give tribute to a deceased.

4. Throw A Family Dinner

Arrange a dinner inviting close friends and family and people who cared about your father – and serve them his favorite dishes. Most people have commitments on Christmas, so choose a day, time, and venue accordingly.

During the dinner, ask his old buddies to share his life stories and have laughs and fun. You may invite his colleague or work friend to share a funny life experience of your dad as a way to refresh his memories.

5. Volunteer Yourself

What is better to remember someone than to volunteer for community service and serve the people? You should spend a few hours serving the community and dedicate the blessings and prayers to your father.

Remembering your father starts with arranging a fitting memorial at funeral homes Mentor, OH.