A simple cup of coffee, a kind phone call, a thoughtful card. The care a funeral home provides doesn’t end when the service and burial are complete. Anyone who has lost a loved one knows the journey through grief can seem overwhelming and lonesome, but funeral homes offer continued support along the way. Many funeral homes have a grief specialist or a grief care coordinator whose job it is to reach out to those who have recently experienced a loss and to provide them with compassionate care during the weeks, months, and years following. This ongoing support helps individuals manage grief in healthy ways. The opportunities to gather and talk create a sense of community at a time that might feel isolating. Listed below are just some of the ways funeral homes provide valuable grief support.

Support Groups

Most funeral homes offer meetings for those who are grieving, and some even have separate groups for children and teens or for those whose loved one died by suicide. Grief support groups generally meet on a regular basis and are led by the grief care coordinator. However, these gatherings are not limited to one particular style or structure; there are more casual options available, too. For example, some funeral homes host weekly knitting clubs or card games, and monthly lunches at restaurants are a common offering for widows.

Special Events

In addition to regular support group opportunities, grief care special events occur at different points throughout the year and are unique occasions for conversation, remembrance, and healing. These events can range from an informative seminar to a more lighthearted group painting session. A popular annual event hosted by many funeral homes is a holiday service of remembrance to honor those who have passed away each year. It is best to check funeral home websites or social media platforms for when and where these special events are offered.

Resources

Funeral homes provide many, many educational resources for those who have experienced loss. Most locations have shelves of useful books and brochures, as well as categorized lists of additional grief-related texts and movies. Grief care coordinators often send monthly newsletters or periodic emails. They can also direct individuals and families to many other organizations, events, and websites that are available to support those who are grieving.

Experience

Beyond hosting support groups, putting on events, and providing resources, funeral directors and grief specialists simply have more experience with death than most people. They are natural sources of guidance and encouragement, and, even after the funeral or memorial service is complete, they are still there to help. Contact your local funeral home for more information about the grief support they offer.