Unexpected Grief with Spring Cleaning

By: Matthew Funeral Home
Monday, March 18, 2019

    Spring is almost here, and with it comes the renewal of warmer weather and longer days. When you start your Spring cleaning, you may never know what you’ll find hidden in that closet, or down in the basement corner. For many people, it is common to find mementos of lost loved ones during big home clean ups like Spring cleaning. You may uncover old photo albums or favorite trinkets of your family members who have passed. What’s important is what you do afterwards.

Finding Mementos

    Spring cleaning is an important way to shake off the harsh winter and prepare for better weather. But you may end up uncovering some old memories. You may want to pour over every photograph, every shirt still in the closet. It is good to take some time to look over these, and appreciate the memories you have of your loved one.

Clearing Out Possessions

After the death of a loved one, it can become difficult to get rid of a lot of their stuff. Their possessions can end up getting piled up, or getting lost in the house. It can be a hard thing to decide to throw out or give away your loved one’s things. Consider giving some of their possessions to family members, or their close friends. They may be able to get more use out of them, and can have something that keeps the deceased in their minds. You don’t have to get rid of everything. Try to keep some of their possessions that have a lot of meaning or use to you.

Donate Clothes

Clothing can be an especially hard thing to get rid of after a loved one passes, but it is often something that a family has in large quantities. Ask members of your family if they share a size with the deceased, and see if they would consider taking some of the clothes. The rest of them can be donated to local clothing drives. Giving some of your loved one’s wardrobe to a charity clothing organization can be a great act of kindness; and a good thing to do in memory of your loved one.

 

    The author of this post is not a professional therapist or counselor. For assistance in finding a grief counselor that is right for you, there are a number of resources out there. For our Grief Resource center, written by Dr. Bill Webster, click here.

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

Types of Floral Arrangements for Funerals

There are various styles of floral arrangements for a funeral. Each one has specific meanings and uses. Different types of arrangements may also be suggested based on your relationship to the decea...

Why Choose a Family-Owned Funeral Home?

Matthew Funeral Home was founded over 50 years ago by the Scamardella family. Today, three generations of Scamardellas have worked as funeral directors here. Family-owned and operated funeral homes...

Spring Cleaning and Fighting Grief

Spring cleaning is a good way to refresh your home after the winter. It can also be a good time to address your house after a grieving period. After a loved one passes, sorting through and dealing ...

Cremation FAQs

Cremation as a process is generally done away from the families of the deceased, and therefore families often have many questions about the process. Below are some FAQs about the process of cremati...

Friendship and Support During Grief

After losing a loved one, it is easy to feel alone or closed off. If you feel lost and alone, it can be hard to reach out for help. Thankfully, you aren’t truly alone. Your friends are there to lov...

Service Uniforms at a Funeral

In many organizations and service professions, it is customary to wear a uniform to the funeral of a fallen member, or the loved one of a member. Wearing a uniform to a funeral shows comradery, sol...

Valentine's Day And Lost Partners

After losing a partner or spouse, certain days can trigger feelings of grief. These can include their birthday, relationship anniversaries, and Valentine’s Day. Because Valentine’s Day can be promi...

Common Jewish Funeral Practices

While green burials tend to be a newer concept, making choices in your funeral plans to be more eco-friendly is not. The Jewish faith and tradition tend to follow more eco-friendly practices. This ...

Grief and the Loss of Estranged Parents

Rocky relationships with family are always difficult to navigate. Grief can make things even more complicated. When you lose a low- or no-contact parent, it can be difficult to navigate feelings of...

How to Choose a Good Funeral Home

When a loved one passes, or when pre-planning your own funeral, it is important to choose a funeral home that you are comfortable with. While dealing with the loss of a loved one, planning a funera...