Supporting Grieving Families During the Holidays

Grief is personal. We all process emotions and navigate through the grieving period in our own way. But these feelings can be more challenging to deal with during the holidays.

Coping with grief requires patience and self-awareness. During the busy holiday season, we may lose sight of taking care of ourselves during the period of healing and feel less interested in enjoying the holiday season to its fullest.

“Holidays can be a tough time for families,” said Ryan Brooke, President of Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa. “The saving grace can be the stories, traditions, and memories we share and laughing while remembering them.”

Despite the season’s challenges, there are ways to support yourself and your family during the holidays so that you can begin to heal while enjoying time with loved ones.

Take Time for Family and Friends

One of the best ways to enjoy the holiday season is to spend quality time with those you care about the most. While it can be tempting to avoid social gatherings, they help to elevate your mood and reduce the feelings of grief. This may also include visiting the cemetery where your loved ones are buried.

“It can be a healing experience for families to come to a cemetery,” Brooke said. “To physically touch the headstone, crypt, or niche where their loved one has been permanently placed and marked to keep that connection with them.”

Share Your Feelings

Holidays are particularly difficult because of fond memories and traditions you shared with the loved ones you’ve lost. But when you share those memories about the person, it can be cathartic and even make the holidays more enjoyable.

Oakwood Memorial Park has been helping to support grieving families through the holidays since their founding. For information on how they can help your family through the difficult time of losing a loved one, please visit oakwoodmemorialpark.net or call 815-433-0313.

Oakwood Memorial Park

2405 Champlain St

Ottawa, IL 61350