Bereavement

When a loved one dies, you grieve their loss. Your grieving is a normal and natural reaction to your loss, and is necessary to the healing process. Jesus consoles us in John's gospel: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also."

Seek support, hope and healing from your faith, family, friends, and Church community. May the God of all consolation, mercy, and healing bless you with peace.

What is Grief:
A Normal, Natural, and Necessary reaction to loss of any kind; especially the loss of a loved one.

What are some normal grief reactions:

Grief is unique to each person, but there are some similarities. Grief affects us physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. You may feel:

Shock/Disbelief/Numbness
Loneliness/Emptiness
Fear/Anxiety
Anger/Hostility
Depression/Sadness
Lack of Purpose
Lack of Energy and Ability to Concentrate
Change in Eating Habits
Change in Sleeping Habits
Guilt/Regret
Jealousy of Others
Strengthen in Faith/Weaken in Faith
Relief
Survival/Healing/Acceptance

Reflections:

In order to experience healing, you have to experience grief.
Grief is the price we pay for love.
The sooner you feel, the sooner you heal.
Cry when you have to and laugh when you can.
Grief is a process and a journey.
You don't get over it (grief), but you do get through it somehow.
Pain is a part of healing.
Healing is making peace with your life.
Faith is the most important aspect of the bereavement process.

Grieve and Hope:

After the death of a loved one, your life has been changed because of your loss. Over time, your grief will change too. It will soften. You will not always feel as you do at this moment. Just because life has changed, doesn't mean it is ruined. There is HOPE and HEALING. First you must feel and grieve. To heal, you must express your sadness for as long as it takes. Accept the likelihood of pain.

Loss hurts beyond what words can express. In time and with hard work, the good days will begin to out number the bad days. You will survive this as many others have too. There is life after death for your loved one. That is our faith. There is also life after loss for you! The day will come when you will know deep inside that you have regained your sense of balance, journeyed through the grief process, and are ready to move on with a good and whole life. On that day, you will be a stronger person than you have ever been before.

How can I help someone who is grieving?

The Christian faithful comfort mourners with words of faith and support and acts of kindness (Order of Christian Funeral, #10).

1. Give them your listening presence. Support is based more on effective listening than on any words you may say.
2. Convey caring and genuine concern.
3. Give them permission to grieve and to express their feelings. Allow them to talk. Don't be afraid of their tears.
4. Remember with them. Share stories, memories, and photos. Use the deceased loved one's name.
5. Give children truthful information regarding death and use age appropriate words.
6. Offer continuing support. Especially offer support around holidays and difficult days: birthdays, anniversaries, and the anniversary of the death.
7. Visit, telephone, and write them. Grieving people need time alone also to remember their loved ones and to process their grief.
8. Avoid using cliches. Speak from your heart.
9. Offer to take the grieving person out for a little bit - store, restaurant, library, cemetery, etc.
10. Pray for them. Offer to attend church with them. Give them a book of poems and prayers.

BEREAVEMENT MINISTRY SERVICES:
Bereavement Support Groups. In the tradition of Catholic Cemeteries being places of prayer and comfort, the Catholic Cemeteries Association Bereavement Ministry invites you to spend some special time learning about the grief process and sharing your loss. We offer, free of charge, an open bereavement support group session that is held every 3rd Sunday of the month from 3:00 to 4:00 PM in the office at the following cemeteries:

Holy Cross Cemetery (West) 14609 Brookpark Road Brook Park, OH	All Souls Cemetery (East) 10366 Chardon Road, Rt. 6 Chardon, OH
All Saints Cemetery (South) 480 W. Highland Road Northfield, OH	Holy Cross Cemetery (South) 100 E. Waterloo Road Akron, OH
Calvary Cemetery (West) 555 N. Ridge Road, West Lorain, OH

You do not need to spend your Sunday afternoon alone - please come for an afternoon of prayer, support, and sharing.

Our support groups provide an opportunity for you to learn about the grief process, share your loss and emotions, and spend special time with others who have experienced a similar loss in support and in prayer.

Also Available:

Over 25 different booklets, brochures, and literature on grief are available in the lobby, free of charge, in all our cemetery offices.

A bereavement library is located at Holy Cross Cemetery, 14609 Brookpark Road, Brook Park, OH. 216-267-2850.

Resource information and referrals to bereavement support in the diocese (Parish - Hospice - Community). For information call 216-641-7575 or email at info@clevelandcatholiccemeteries.org

Masses are offered on Memorial Day and on Cemetery Sunday (the first Sunday in November) at our Catholic Cemeteries.

A Mass is offered for all of our beloved dead in our Catholic Cemeteries each week.

For additional information and resources Link to: www.Griefwork.org or Diocese of Cleveland, OH - Department for Marriage and Family Ministry www.dioceseofcleveland.org. You may also contact the cemetery of your choice or e-mail us at info@clevelandcatholiccemeteries.org