Chapel Of The Chimes Oakland - A Lifemark Group Property

Coping with the Loss of a Spouse

Long-lasting partnerships are one of life’s most beautiful treasures. However, when the time comes to lay your soul mate and closest friend to rest, the beauty you experienced together can make acceptance of your spouse’s passing especially difficult.

For an idea of what you may expect to experience following your spouse’s death and strategies for coping, watch this educational video clip. After acknowledging that the death of a husband or wife can be excruciatingly painful, Dr. Maurice Turmel offers some helpful advice for coming to terms with your loss and incorporating your loved one’s memory into your everyday life.

Many widows and widowers find it comforting to talk to others who are coping with the death of a spouse. By participating in a funeral home support group or looking for grief support groups in your area, you can determine whether or not support groups are a source of comfort for you. To speak with a funeral services provider at one of the East Bay’s most inclusive and organized funeral homes, call Chapel of the Chimes Oakland at (510) 654-0123. 

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The Steps of Writing a Eulogy that Honors Your Loved One

Being asked to deliver a eulogy at a loved one’s funeral service is an honor, but it is also a responsibility that can place added stress on an already grieving individual. If you have been given the honor of preparing a eulogy for a recently deceased individual who had a special place in your life, follow these steps to writing a heartfelt eulogy without feeling overwhelmed.

Gather Your Thoughts

Find a quiet place to reflect on your loved one’s life and memory. Jot down notes pertaining to any experiences or characteristics you may want to include. This is essentially a brainstorm of the events and memories that flood your mind when you think of your deceased loved one.

Pick a Theme

Once you have jotted down some notes, take a look at them and see if there is a facet of your loved one’s personality or an accomplishment from your loved one’s life that sticks out as a good theme that will help you tie the eulogy together.

Outline and Write a Draft

Keeping the theme of the eulogy in mind, create an outline for your loved one’s eulogy. Once you’ve done this, tie the outline together using vivid language and personal anecdotes.

Enlist Others for Help

If you struggle at any point during the eulogy writing process, do not be afraid to ask for assistance. It can be beneficial to bounce ideas around with someone else who knew your loved one well. Have a close friend or family member of the deceased edit your draft and listen to you giving a practice run.

Delivering a heartfelt eulogy is one of the best final gifts you can give to a loved one. If you are in the process of planning a funeral service and are looking for a compassionate and experienced Oakland funeral home representative to assist you every step of the way, call Chapel of the Chimes Oakland at (510) 654-0123.

Coping with the Death of a Spouse

Losing your best friend, the mother or father of your children, your lover, and your life partner is one of the most painful events that you can conceivably endure. If your spouse has recently passed away and you are at a loss as to how to begin coping with your grief, the advice offered in this post may be of some assistance to you.

Let Yourself Grieve
Grief is a natural phenomenon, and it manifests itself differently in everyone. There is no way of knowing how long the grieving process will last for you and what emotions you will experience. You just have to take each day and each new emotion as it comes, recognizing them for what they are. Trust that you will heal, but don’t short-change any of the emotions you feel or the hurdles you encounter on your journey through grief.

Turn to Your Support Network
Other family members and friends may not know how you feel, but they understand that you are going through a very difficult time and are willing to help in any way they can. If you feel like you need to talk about your thoughts and feelings as you grieve, turn to your closest friends. If you need any help around the house or with the kids, ask those closest to you, as they will be the most willing to help you in your time of need.

Seek Additional Help
The funeral home at which you are planning your spouse’s funeral may offer support groups and other grief support services. To share your experience with others who have also recently lost a partner, close friend, or family member, attend a support group meeting. If you feel suffocated by your emotions or entirely helpless and things are not looking up, schedule an appointment with a grief and loss counseling professional.

The days, weeks, and months following your spouse’s death are sure to be difficult. By working with a compassionate and knowledgeable funeral services provider to make his or her final arrangements, you will have the time you need to grieve in your own way even during the funeral planning process. To speak with an Oakland funeral home representative or learn about the grief support services available at Chapel of the Chimes Oakland, call (510) 654-0123.

Pre-Planning Guide from Chapel of the Chimes

People choose to pre-plan their funerals for several different reasons. Regardless of whether you have a strong desire to control the details of your funeral service or you are just looking after your estate and have been advised to make advance arrangements, the funeral pre-planning guide from Chapel of the Chimes Oakland can clarify and simplify the process.

This consumer resource offers a step-by-step guide to everything you need to know about making advance arrangements for your family. In addition to containing practical tools such as a pre-planning checklist and an online pre-planning form, this guide discusses several reasons why planning a funeral in advance is a responsible decision.

Are you a resident of the Oakland area who is looking for more funeral pre-planning resources? For full-service assistance from an experienced funeral and cremation services provider, call Chapel of the Chimes Oakland at (510) 654-0123.