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Funeral Talk

Each week, our funeral home directors share helpful answers, practical guidance, and real-world advice on funeral planning, cremation, grief support, veterans benefits, and more.

Supporting a Bereaved Parent After the Loss of a Child

November 3, 2025

Understanding Parental Grief

Losing a child shatters the natural order of life, leaving parents facing unimaginable pain. Beyond the physical loss, it represents the death of hopes, dreams, and the future once envisioned. Each parent’s grief is deeply personal - marked by waves of sadness, guilt, disbelief, and longing. There is no timeline for healing, and no “right way” to grieve.


Offering Compassion and Support

 The best support is quiet, consistent, and nonjudgmental. Instead of offering advice or searching for words to “fix” the pain, focus on  listening  and showing up . Practical gestures - delivering meals, helping with errands, or assisting with surviving children - can lift a tremendous weight from grieving parents. Compassion means walking beside them without expectation, recognizing that grief may last a lifetime.


Helping the Whole Family Heal

The loss of a child affects siblings and family members alike. Encourage open, age-appropriate conversations so children can express emotions freely. Family rituals, remembrance activities, and counseling can bring everyone together on the path toward healing. Over time, ongoing community, faith-based, or counseling support helps parents rediscover meaning while honoring their child’s memory.

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Why We Hold onto Certain Objects After Loss

By Buffy Johnston • August 20, 2026
After a loss, families often share how a single object can feel like a lifeline. A favorite shirt still carrying their scent, a handwritten recipe card smudged from years of use, or a well worn tool that fits perfectly in the hand, these things become more than belongings. They become connected. We keep these items not because we’re stuck in grief, but because they help us stay close to the people we miss. They remind us of ordinary moments that suddenly feel priceless. Holding onto something tangible gives our hearts a place to rest. It’s a quiet way of saying, “You mattered. You still do.”

Common Questions Families Ask About Funeral Planning

By Buffy Johnston • August 13, 2026
When families sit down to plan a funeral, the same questions often rise to the surface. People want to know what choices they have, what things cost, and how to make the service feel personal. Many ask whether certain traditions can be included, if a favorite song can be played, or how to create something that truly reflects the life being honored. Others simply want to understand the process, so nothing feels overwhelming. There are no “wrong” questions. Funeral planning is emotional, and it’s natural to feel unsure. The goal is always to guide, explain, and help create something meaningful. At the heart of every question is love, and that’s where the process begins.

The Sounds and Memories of Summer

By Buffy Johnston • August 6, 2026
Summer has a way of bringing our loved ones back to us in the smallest moments. It might be the buzz of cicadas at dusk, the smell of charcoal drifting from a backyard grill, or a song that instantly pulls you back to a day you didn’t realize would become a memory. Families often talk about how these moments catch them off guard. Grief doesn’t disappear when the weather warms up; it just shows up in different ways. When we slow down and let those sounds and scents wash over us, we’re reminded that the people we miss are still woven into our lives. Summer has a gentle way of helping us feel close to them again.