As terrible as a loss may seem, there are ways to ease one's self and others through the pain.

The first step in the mourning experience is to accept the reality of the loss. The gathering of family and friends for the visitation and funeral service helps to provide emotional support so needed at this time. This will help those who grieve to face the reality of death and consequently, to take the first step toward a healthy emotional adjustment.

Secondly, the bereaved individual must allow themselves to experience the pain of grief, rather than repress it. Most persons will work it through in their own time, taking anywhere from six months to two years. If someone is having difficulty, they may be blocked in this process, and some professional grief counseling may be necessary. In order for the grief reaction to take place, a person may need help in these feelings:

• Reviewing their relationship with the deceased.
• Expressing to someone their sense of sorrow and sadness.
• Sharing feelings of regret, remorse, guilt without having them being corrected, changed or denied.
• Getting in touch with angry feelings about the death, or with the person who died. These feelings can be difficult to reach, as many people are not in touch with and even deny anger. With patience, it all comes out.
• Resolving any unfinished business with the deceased.
• Working through any bondage with the deceased, such as visiting the cemetery every week, or molding an individual to be like the one passed on.
• Finding comfort in religious faith. Such a process may stem from the genuine feelings of the individual.
  

It consists of a series of monthly help letters called AfterLoss, since most of us have little, if any understanding of how to deal with grief. AfterLoss will be there for people needing encouragement, practical support and guidance to help as they move into the days ahead.

AfterLoss will help you face tomorrow by teaching how to deal with the problems of today-the painful feelings and emotions that arise after a loss, such as grief and loneliness, at times even guilt and rage.

Providing this support is just one way we hope to continue to be of help and service. Please know, above all, that we are here.

Someone You Love Has Died
You are now faced with the difficult, but important, need to mourn. Mourning is the open expression of your thoughts and feelings regarding the death and the person who has died. It is an essential part of healing. You are beginning a journey that is often frightening, painful, overwhelming, and sometimes lonely. This article provides practical suggestions to help you move toward healing in your personal grief experience.

• Initiates the grieving process.
• Acknowledges the importance of a life that has been lived.
• Can be personalized to allow mourners to remember and honor their loved one in ways that are special and meaningful.
• Serves as a central gathering place for family and friends to give emotional and physical support to one another.
• Provides closure for the bereaved.
• Confirms the reality and finality of the death.
• Encourages mourners to face the pain of their loss and express their thoughts and feelings.
• Helps survivors to better cope with their grief and assists in enabling them to move on with their lives.
• Provides a context for expression of religious and other beliefs.
• Grief shared is grief diminished - and grief denied is grief delayed.
  

Our concern about proper cremation procedures led to our decision to establish our own crematory. We are always pleased to set up a personal visit to our Mountview Cemetery Chapel of Peace crematory where we operate state-of-the-art equipment in an impeccably clean facility and observe strict procedures that ensure the highest legal and ethical standards.

We believe that those who compare our cremation facilities, our staff, our procedures, our prices, and our reputation for excellence will conclude that we offer unsurpassed quality, value, and peace of mind.