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Whenever I’m at the ocean, either driving by or lucky enough to spend some time on the warm sand, I have a sense of relaxation and rejuvenation. This got me thinking that the sea, with its vastness, its mysteries and beauty, might just be the perfect place to go when your soul needs to heal. […]

Grief is a river that you wade in until you get to the other side… Barbara Crooker’s poem “Grief”, which begins with these words, reflects her personal experience with loss and the overwhelming impact of her sorrow. Her words, like the words of poets from many generations, can be a great source of solace to

Losing a husband or life partner – it’s impossible to fathom or understand until it happens to you. Friends and family can be a loving source of support, but until they have experienced such a loss, they can sympathize but not empathize. As with so many challenges today, we can turn to the Internet for

This past Sunday was Mother’s Day, a time honored tradition that sets aside a particular day each year to make sure we remember to appreciate all those who have played a mothering role in our lives, our mothers and grandmothers, the mothers of our children and even our friends. Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia is credited

FEMA OFFERS FUNDS TO COVER FUNERAL EXPENSES TO FAMILIES WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES TO COVID-19. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is reimbursing certain funeral expenses to qualified families who have lost loved ones due to COVID-19. Applications to be considered for financial assistance on expenses incurred after January 20, 2020 are now being

Although some COVID restrictions impacting the funeral industry have been lessened, most families are still unable to hold the traditional memorial or funeral service immediately following the death of their loved one. This can be truly heartbreaking. Planning a gathering or memorial service, however, can begin at any time and may be helpful as you

We are greatly saddened on the passing of a beloved member of the Hilgenfeld Mortuary family, Pat Pina. Although not an employee, Pat was an integral member of our business family as the volunteer who ran our Grief Support Program for many years. Every other week, Pat would devote two hours of her day to

Don’t think about what can happen in a month. Don’t think about what can happen in a year. Just focus on the 24 hours in front of you and do what you can to get closer to where you want to be…Anonymous When you lose a loved one, especially when death was unexpected or has

“Real empathy is sometimes not insisting that it will be okay, but acknowledging that it is not.” Unknown A common response when a friend experiences a devastating loss is to have no idea what to do. What should you say? What can you do to make them feel better? How can you make it go

If you have experienced the loss of a friend or family member during the past year, dealing with your grief has become especially challenging. For most, it is something that has to be done alone, with members of your household or virtually. This applies to any loss, related to COVID-19 or not. Managing through the