Grief and the Approaching Holidays

By: Matthew Funeral Home
Wednesday, December 19, 2018


Grief often strikes at inopportune times. The holiday season can be difficult after the loss of a loved one; because they are often the times we feel the void left by them. Most people surround themselves with family during the holidays, and having an empty seat at the table can be painful during such normally happy times. 

It is OK to Grieve on the Holidays

Some people often feel shameful for grieving during the holidays. Often, people feel that they need permission to grieve. But grief is a necessary part of the healing process. You need to go through it in order to heal. You should talk with your loved ones openly about your need to grieve. If you are uncomfortable having that conversation with everyone; try talking privately to a few of your family members about it.

Talk About Them

Some families will try to avoid bringing up your lost loved one. But your family should share memories and stories about them. It can bring the family closer together. Enjoy your time together, and reminisce about the good times with them.

Keeping Traditions Alive

Traditions in family gatherings are often tied to the loved ones who created or headed them. After the passing of a loved one, your family should decide whether or not to keep their traditions alive. It can be cathartic to pass the torch of certain traditions down. You are not replacing your loved one with another family member. You are keeping their legacy alive. 

Making the Same Dishes

As much as she tried to teach us how to cook; we all know we can’t replicate grandma’s cooking. But we can keep the spirit of the holidays up by recreating a loved one’s dishes to the best of our abilities. Just like passing on family traditions, holiday meals are just as, if not more, important. Looking through their cookbooks or old recipe cards can help you make the dishes similarly to them.
For almost 50 years, Matthew Funeral Home has been serving the Staten Island community. We can help with almost every aspect of your loved one’s memorial service. Our family is here to serve yours, every step of the way. 

Leave a comment
Name*:
Email:
Comment*:
Please enter the numbers and letters you see in the image. Note that the case of the letters entered matters.

Comments

Please wait

Previous Posts

Winter Safety for the Elderly

Winter is almost here, and with cold weather comes safety risks for elderly individuals. Between icy paths and freezing temperatures, it can be important to help your older loved ones stay safe in ...

Memorial Services for Veterans

As Veteran’s Day approaches, we wanted to share information on veteran memorial services and funerals. A big part of planning a funeral for veterans or servicemembers is the memorialization of thei...

Choosing a Casket for Your Loved One

Choosing a casket is an important part of the funeral process. Many families choose the casket after their loved one has passed, but some people choose their casket ahead of time. This article will...

Grief and Tragic Backstories in Media

From superheroes to romantic comedies, many movies and TV shows rely on tragedy to help us connect or sympathize with characters. Grief of some form, or a tragic past leads a character on a path. E...

Alcohol Use and Coping with Grief

While in grief, many people turn to things that can comfort or distract them. It is not uncommon for some people to reach for alcohol in this way. For many people, alcohol can serve as a way to avo...

Apathy and Grief

On this blog, we often talk about how grief is a complicated emotion, and how everyone experiences it differently. However, we don’t often talk about grief and apathy. Apathy is a state of numbness...

Etiquette for Donating In a Loved One's Name

Some individuals or their families request donations to charity in place of flowers during the bereavement period. Most families will appreciate the donation in their loved one’s name. Especially i...

Grief and Losing Online Friends

In our technology-based world, more and more people have developed friendships completely in cyberspace. Consistent communication with gaming partners, online community members, and more allows us ...

Sending Sympathy Meals to a Loved One

When a friend or family member passes away, it is a common practice to send sympathy meals to the immediate family. Sympathy meals show your support for the family while providing them with food. W...

Validating Feelings of Grief

Grief is one of the most complex and misunderstood emotions for people to experience. One way to help your loved one cope with their grief is to validate their feelings. Supporting a loved one who ...