• A Roadmap to Dealing with the Loss of a Sibling

    Couple at a Funeral

    While the relationship one has with a sibling varies from person to person and family to family, the majority of sibling relationships are incredibly special and unique. No matter your sibling’s age at the time of his or her passing and funeral and the number of years you’ve shared together, you are likely to feel that a piece of your childhood and perhaps even the person you are today is missing with your sibling gone. Everyone grieves differently, but these tips should help you.

    Processing Your Loss

    When growing up, thoughts of having to say goodbye to a brother or sister someday rarely cross one’s mind. As we age, this may change; but that does not necessarily make the reality of a sibling’s death any easier to face. Coming to terms with the loss of a brother or sister is a process, and accepting it may take a long time. Remember this as you cope with strong emotions that may feel foreign to you, reminding yourself that your grieving process is your own and that what you are experiencing and feeling is natural.

    Dealing with Your Sibling’s Family

    If your sibling built a family of his or her own, this will be a tough time for them as well. You will likely have many interactions with them in the wake of your sibling’s passing, interactions that may or may not help you cope. During this difficult time, try to respect your sibling’s family and their feelings, as well as your own.

    Finding the Support You Need

    Coping with the loss of your sibling may not be something you can do entirely on your own. Embrace the support of family and friends , and seek out grief support services and professional guidance if the support of your loved ones is not enough for you during your time of need.

    At Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland, we seek to help all those who use our services find the support they need when grieving their loved ones. We understand the gravity of your situation and the importance of finding comfort in the wake of your loss. To speak with a compassionate and dedicated funeral services provider about our grief support services, call (510) 654-0123.

  • How to Support a Friend After the Loss of a Parent

    Losing a parent can be devastating. If you have a friend who recently lost a parent and you want to be there during this difficult time, the advice offered in this video clip can help.

    From preparing meals and offering to babysit to offering practical assistance with funeral arrangements, there are a number of ways in which you can demonstrate your support. The most important way in which you can help your friend is to let him or her know that you are here and that you always will be, listening intently any time your friend opens up about his or her feelings and what he or she is going through.

    While many aspects of funeral planning are personal and will need to be handled by your friend, you can offer to research funeral and cremation service providers to spare your friend time and energy during this time of need. To speak with a compassionate and experienced funeral home representative at  Chapel of the Chimes Oakland , call (510) 654-0123

  • A Guide to Coping with Bereavement

    Depression.

    The days and weeks following the death of a loved one tend to be the most difficult of one’s life. While the grieving process is unique and each person deals with loss in his or her own way, there are a handful of strategies that have proven effective in helping most people cope with a loved one’s passing. As you make arrangements for your loved one’s funeral and cremation services and begin to process the reality of your loss, keep the following advice in mind.

    Allow Yourself to Feel

    The bereavement period is almost always accompanied by strong and varied emotions. As you experience feelings that were previously foreign to you in the days and weeks following your loved one’s death, remember that everyone grieves differently and that the bereavement period has no set time limit. Embracing your feelings may actually help you to move forward, but you should not hesitate to seek help if you become concerned about the thoughts and feelings you have during your period of mourning.

    Take Care of Yourself

    When you are grieving the loss of one of your closest companions, it can be easy to forget to prioritize your health. Good physical health, however, is important to have during the coping process. Make an effort to ensure that you drink plenty of water, eat enough food, and get plenty of rest during the bereavement process.

    Seek Help When You Need It

    The family members and friends who have offered assistance since your loved one departed this world are really more than happy to help you. Know that your friends and family are there for you, and seek professional help if you feel that you need it.

    At Chapel of the Chimes Oakland, we understand that there is no way for one to be truly prepared for bereavement. To help those who use our cremation and funeral services get started on the path toward acceptance of loss, we offer online grief support and counseling services in addition to more conventional resources for helping mourning individuals to cope. To speak with a funeral home representative about our cremation, funeral, and grief support services , call (510) 654-0123.

  • What’s the Difference Between a Eulogy and an Obituary?

    Rose on the tombstone

    Because both eulogies and obituaries are written for loved ones following their passing, the distinction between the two is understandably not clear to many. There are, however, a number of noteworthy differences between the two.

    An obituary is essentially a mini-biography that is written for a newspaper or other publication to announce a person’s death and inform a community of any public funeral or memorial services that will be held in that person’s honor. Obituaries are generally no longer than a paragraph or two.

    A eulogy, on the other hand, is a written speech that is delivered at a funeral service. Eulogies are typically lengthier and more personal than obituaries, as they are intended to share memories of a loved one that other family members and friends at the service are able to relate to.

    In addition to writing an obituary and eulogy for a loved one who has just passed away, you will have to make funeral arrangements in the days following the death. To work with a caring, dedicated, and experienced funeral services provider in the East Bay , call Chapel of the Chimes Oakland at (510) 654-0123.

  • 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. 

  • Jazz at the Chimes – Jamie Davis

    Jazz_January

    Come join us Sunday, January 19th at 2pm!

  • The Steps of Writing a Eulogy that Honors Your Loved One

    Elderly man lost in thought

    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.

    Nostalgia

    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

    Rest In Peace

    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.

  • Creating a Pre-Planning Checklist for Your Funeral

    At the Funeral (burial)

    Making advanced arrangements for your funeral can provide you with peace of mind and spare your family a great deal of emotional and financial stress. If you want the funeral pre-planning process to go smoothly, a checklist of all the steps you need to take and the decisions you need to make will help. When drawing up that checklist, consider the following information:

    Burial vs. Cremation
    Deciding whether to bury or cremate a loved one is one of the most difficult decisions many families make when planning a funeral. By making advance arrangements for the option you prefer, you will keep your family from guessing what choice you would have made.

    Funeral Type and Location
    Two other major decisions that you should make when pre-planning your funeral are the type of funeral you want and your preferred location. Do you qualify for a funeral with military honors? Do you want to have a religious funeral in a house of worship or an outdoor funeral in a place that will remind your family and friends how much you loved nature? Ask yourself questions of this nature, and let your answers guide the decision-making process.

    Service Details
    When you pre-plan your funeral , you have complete control over the smallest details of your service. You can choose everything from the flowers to the music to the readings to the eulogist, ensuring that your funeral is just what you want it to be.

    Payment Arrangements
    Most funeral homes that offer funeral pre-planning services have an advanced payment option. If you have saved money for your funeral or have a life insurance policy that will cover part or all of your funeral costs, take advantage of this option to spare your loved ones the financial burden of financing your funeral.

    If this list seems daunting, remind yourself that your advanced funeral plans are a work in progress that can be changed in the years leading up to your passing. Working with a certified and experienced funeral service provider who can walk you through the pre-planning process can also help. To speak with an experienced funeral and cremation services provider in the Bay Area, call Chapel of the Chimes Oakland at (510) 654-0123.