The bustle and bright lights of the holiday season can bring with it difficult days for people experiencing deep grief for a recent loss, or long lost loved one, or a sudden and traumatic death. Now, with the pandemic precautions, we may feel even more bereft of human comfort. The team at Can-Trust Funeral has some suggestions based on serving families preparing to mark loss in funeral home services in Richmond, funerals in Surrey, Burnaby, Coquitlam and greater Vancouver.
Mourners have the opportunity to express anguish and tears of sadness at the time of a funeral or memorial. Mourning is public. It is acceptable and encouraged.
Grief is the silent, private part that endures with no predictable limit. It can be anticipated as a recurring reminder of our loss, recent or long ago, or it can ambush us – brought on as we see holiday decorations going up, or receive invitations for rounds of merrymaking and celebrations for a great new year ahead.
Can-Trust’s Funeral Directors offer this advice on how to care for ourselves and perhaps to ease our feeling of being alone with the distress and also our worry about spoiling the time for family and friends. These two main ideas of feeling and action might be of help.
1. Take time to mark the moment
Choose from any of the rituals to honour those who passed and to mark your personal remembrance of them, even well after their funeral or memorial.
- It is customary in many religions and societal traditions to remember the dead with visits to the physical grave. Christmas like the anniversary of the death is a natural time for family and friends to visit the grave.
- Bring flowers or other objects to remember the deceased. These are sometimes placed on the grave as a sign of respect.
- Bring candles, a wreath or take comfort by making your own ornaments as a meaningful gesture to decorate the monument.
2. Look Up and Out, Never Giving Up
Try to be ‘outgoing’ and try to look outside yourself to see the positive moments and people around you. This is possible even with the distancing requirements and social restrictions due to pandemic precautions.
- You can be true to your feelings yet join in as you can in activity with others.
- Get outside to enjoy fresh air to restore energy to the body and perspective to the spirit. Now a must –do action for everyone, so you will be alone yet together in nature.
- Feel and act at your own comfort level. There’s no need to push beyond what you can do, only to be open to do something and not isolate yourself during this season.
- If you are having more hours of isolation, perhaps a meditation practice to calm thoughts might be good to star.
We have been working closely as a team at Can-Trust-Funerals for years. We know the mix of heartbreak and happiness in memories that flood us at this time of year. That includes you and the care we encourage you to offer yourself.
Should we be able to ease your mind as you consider advance death care arrangements in the Metro Vancouver area or need to talk to us now, please contact us for a consult. You are never under any obligation.
We wish you the best at this time. To all we extend the guiding principal that helps us help others, Compassion, Always
Can-Trust’s funeral directors offer families caring guidance on all options in the Lower Mainland community. We provide reliable, straightforward and affordable service, and with compassion, always.
Before you engage with any funeral homes, please call Can-Trust-Funeral at 604-376-7975 or email to book a free professional consultation. You are never obligated.
Our Can-Trust team of licensed funeral directors, provides funeral services in Burnaby, funeral services in Richmond, Vancouver and throughout the Lower Mainland.
Phone: 604-376-7975
E-mail: can-trust-funeral@outlook.com
WeChat: Cantrustfuneral
Learn more at the Can-Trust-Funeral website
