Grief and Loss

"Whatever God creates is small at the beginning and then grows bigger, except for grief, which is big at the beginning and then grows small."

Just as death is an experience embarked on alone, so is the aftermath of grief and loss for its survivors. Wisdom tells us that grief is the price paid for experiencing love. But just because the work of grief must be done alone, this does not mean that you have to be by yourself. Reach out to your friends and family. Tell the dog. Tell the cat. Most communities have groups of people who are going through all kinds of loss. Find one that suits your needs through hospice, family service agencies or the events calendars in the local newspaper. Individual counseling may also be appropriate.

Please go our "Links" page to find resources that may be helpful.

Everyone handles their loss in their own way, in their own time. Most people begin to emerge from the numbing rollercoaster of emotions 6-8 weeks following a major loss. Some have a delayed reaction, seeming to be back to "normal" in a few days, only to fall back into a dark sadness later. Many people experience emotions as if they are riding waves of grief and loss that rise and retreat, often at unexpected times. If you are unsure about your own process, you may wish to speak to a specialist in grief, just to assure yourself that you are indeed moving forward. This may be a social worker, psychologist, clergy person or a counselor. At Bednarsky Funeral Home, we have a list of local professionals to refer to for the occasions when families need a little more help coping with their loss.

The National Hospice Foundation is a good place to start.  go to www.hospicefoundation.org

The American Association for Retired Persons website is www.aarp.org . They list resources for grief and loss as well as suggestions about the legal and financial aspects of life as a widow or widower.

For helpful books and more links to grief and loss go to www.insightbooks.com  This is the website for Doug  Manning, a nationally-known grief counselor/consultant.  Or visit the Care Community, a website dedicated to those in grief and those caring fora loved one...http://www.thecarecommunity.com

The American Cancer Society is also a good resource.  find them at www.americancancersociety.org 

More general websites are www.griefnet.com and www.funeralnet.com