Comforting The Bereaved At Your Loved One's Funeral
When planning a funeral for a loved one, particularly if the loss was unexpected, you may be looking for ways to help provide comfort to yourself, your family and loved ones. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to help people find comfort during the wake and funeral. Talk to your funeral home director and consider the following options as you plan your loved one's funeral.
Therapy Dogs
Therapy dogs are used to help comfort people during tragic events, and they can bring comfort to those attending your loved one's funeral as well. Your funeral home director can help you to find a local therapy dog organization, which can bring the dogs to the funeral home at a designated time. Be sure to let family members know there will be dogs present in case anyone has an allergy. You may be able to arrange for the dogs to work in a separate area of the funeral home in the event there is a person with severe allergies.
Spiritual Leaders
You may already be planning to have a priest, minister, or other spiritual leader participate in the funeral services, but you can also ask for help with consoling the bereaved at the funeral. You may find that your spiritual leader is willing to sit and talk with your family to help them through this trying time. Your place of worship may also offer additional assistance in the form of volunteers who can be in attendance as well. If you don't have a spiritual leader in the area you can ask for assistance, your funeral director may be able to put you in contact with a trusted person from the community.
Grief Counselors
In the event that your family has suffered a tragic, sudden loss, you may want to consider having a grief counselor come to the wake or funeral. This can give people a chance to begin processing and working through their feelings. The counselors can also help with recommendations for further therapy options, such as local support groups or private therapists. Be sure that you have a dedicated space within the funeral home for private discussions with the counselors, as this will help to ensure that everyone using this service can have privacy while discussing their feelings.
Giving your family and friends ways to feel comforted during the funeral can help them to begin the grieving process. Talk to your funeral home director about these options, and don't forget to take advantage of them yourself. Check out websites like http://www.fosterwarnefuneralhome.com to learn more.
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