Carol Van Ahlers

The flowers are gone, casseroles no longer fill the freezer, the mailbox contains few if any cards and the phone has gone relatively silent. Weeks, or even months, have passed since your friend has lost their loved one, but the grief is far from gone. Now, more than ever, is the time for you to […]

The families of veterans who have served our Country are entitled to certain benefits upon their death. Although over the years many of these benefits have been reduced due to budget cuts and lack of resources, there are still opportunities to specially honor those veterans, active or retired, who pass away. Hilgenfeld Mortuary’s staff is

Shortly after my father died, I remember stopping in to see my Mom and noticing how empty the house felt. She sat at her kitchen counter sewing and there was no other living presence in the house. It just didn’t feel right. My Dad had been such a presence; the quiet was extremely disquieting. After

It is often difficult to approach the subject of pre-planning funeral arrangements with someone you love. It is a personal and intimate discussion which many people hesitate to start. However, there are so many reasons to have this conversation, especially with those family members who are older and nearing the end of their lives. One

My best friend’s mother passed away on my birthday. Each year when she calls to wish me a happy birthday, I always feel awkward, knowing that this is also the day that she lost someone she loved dearly. I appreciate the birthday wishes, but also want to convey my thoughts to her knowing that this

When you lose a loved one, there are many arrangements that need to made at a time when you are faced with so many emotions. Our mission, when you enter our doors, is to help guide you through the funeral arrangement process with as much care and compassion as possible. It is not an easy

While researching the value of meditation to those who are grieving, I came across an excellent article by Mary Friedel-Hunt, MA LCSW on the website Griefhaven.org. She began the article with the following quote: It is only through holding our own broken hearts and wounds in an attentive and compassionate embrace, that we can, over

With the onslaught of advice for making New Year’s Resolutions that seems to happen at the end of every year, I came upon a quote that actually gave me pause. I liked it, mostly for its positivity and hope. The quote, by Brendon Burchard, Motivational Speaker and Life Coach, reads: “Do not move on to

Any time someone we love has lost someone they love, it is hard to watch them grieve. Often we feel helpless in our ability to ease their pain and wonder how we can best bring them comfort. During a season with such a focus on joy, this can be even more difficult. So how can

Years ago a friend sent me a quick note after Thanksgiving. It was short and sweet and basically said that she was thinking of me on Thanksgiving and was grateful for our years of friendship, the adventures we shared and the promise of good times to come. It was so simple, but meant so much.