In Grief When Serving the Grieving

Virtual Funeral Professionals Peer Support Meeting in November

WHEELING, IL— Grief is messy and difficult and something funeral professionals see every day. At times, this can overwhelm even the most experienced of us with our own grief. This month’s virtual Funeral Professionals Peer Support meeting on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at 8pm EST / 7pm CST / 5pm PST focuses on supporting our own emotions while we’re serving grieving families. 

As funeral professionals, we know that the common responses to grief are not linear. Grief brings sideways turns, unpredictability and huge obstacles, and no two journeys are the same. But sometimes, we forget to extend ourselves and our colleagues the same grace that we give our grieving families. We don’t have all the answers, especially when we’re facing our own mourning during challenging cases and community turmoil.

“While there is no single checklist, having a few tools in your kit can help you provide a compassionate and thoughtful path forward for those who are grieving,” offers November Peer Support facilitator Kelly Manion, Director of Consumer Marketing at Homesteaders Life Company. Kelly is a grief support specialist with nearly 25 years devoted to purpose-driven work and over a decade of experience in the funeral service profession. She offers valuable resources to those who are grieving. By providing space to talk about our grief, she’ll help us understand the unique ways people grieve and how to maintain our care for ourselves and our colleagues in the midst of it.

Grieving is emotionally and physically draining, so remember to take a break from the exhausting work of grieving and funeral service. Connect with your funeral professional peers on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at 8pm EST / 7pm CST / 5pm PST via Zoom link at cremationassociation.org/peersupport. No registration is required, simply follow the link to join. (Please note that this meeting is hosted in an area that observes the time change at the end of Daylight Saving and “fell back” to Standard Time. Double-check your time zone before attending.)

About Funeral Professionals Peer Support

Funeral Professionals Peer Support Group is committed to providing support, healing, education and knowledge to funeral professionals. They promote wholeness and wellness by uniting funeral sector professionals through a Canada-wide network of regional organizations offering support, information and resources within their community. 

About CANA

Founded in 1913, the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) is an international organization of over 3,500 members, composed of funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, industry suppliers, and consultants. CANA members believe that cremation is preparation for memorialization.