Bereavement Services

Providing personalized counseling and support after a death is an important aspect of care. Bereavement counseling and referral services are available to families who have lost a loved one. A remembrance service is conducted bi-annually, once in the spring and also at the winter holidays. Spiritual counselors are also available to address the many emotional and spiritual needs that can arise when losing a loved one.

Coping with loss.

Listed below are some common responses to loss. Perhaps you will identify with some of these. Many people report feeling an initial stage of numbness after first learning of a death, but there is no real order to the grieving process. While most of these feelings and responses will lessen with time, seek guidance from a professional or someone you trust if they worsen or persist. 

• Shock, numbness and disbelief
• Anger
• Relief
• Guilt/Regret
• Loneliness
• Anxiety/Panic
• Sadness
• Confusion/Disorientation

These emotions are normal and will help you come to terms with your loss. Some feelings may be more intense and last longer than others and your mood can frequently change. You will always miss your loved one, but eventually the pain will ease. 

Accept these typical reactions:

• A wide range of thoughts and feelings, including a sense of unreality and disbelief.
• Physical symptoms, such as shakiness, tight throat, queasy stomach, bodily aches and exhaustion.
• Inability to sleep.
• Lack of appetite.
• Difficulty focusing and making decisions.
• Thinking more about the person's death or illness than their life.
• A resurgence of grief for prior losses

Attend to your physical health:

• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Eat 5 or 6 small meals a day.
• Engage in some form of physical activity.
• Rest during the day
• Create bedtime routines to help you sleep. 

Seek support from others:

• Ask them for help with everyday tasks or simply to be with you.
• Talk about your feelings and cry when you feel like it.
• Ask for private time when you need it, but do not be alone all the time.
• Try to overlook statements that seem insensitive or gently correct when others offend.