December 23, 2024

Grief is a journey that no one wants to traverse, yet it is a path many will find themselves on when a loved one passes away. As we contemplate the profound impact of loss, it’s vital to recognize how we can reach out and support our friends during their times of sorrow. Understanding our role can foster connection and compassion, especially in a world filled with emotional challenges. When we think about navigating this sensitive subject, finding the right balance between offering support and respecting personal space is essential, particularly as families often seek services from adjacent resources, such as Rochester, NY funeral homes. Understanding Grief and Its Phases Before we can effectively support our grieving friends, we should take time to understand the grieving process itself. Grief is not linear and encompasses various emotions and phases: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. The upheaval following a loss can bring about tumultuous feelings, and it’s important to remember that your friend may oscillate between these stages throughout their journey. A critical way that we can help is by being present. Sometimes, your friend may need a listening ear more than they need advice. Allowing them the space to express their thoughts and feelings without judgment can be incredibly beneficial. It may be helpful to encourage them to share funny or touching memories they have of their loved one, a practice that can provide moments of solace amidst the turmoil. Offering Practical Support Helping a friend through grief also means offering practical assistance. Grieving can be an exhausting and overwhelming experience, leaving little energy for everyday tasks. Offer to help with simple chores—cooking meals, running errands, or helping keep things organized at home. Sometimes, just knowing someone is there, offering to shoulder some of life’s burdens, can alleviate the stress your friend is feeling. In addition to offering tangible help, suggesting options from local services can also ease the burden. For instance, if your friend needs support in navigating funeral logistics, it’s wise to mention reputable funeral homes, that they could consider, like Rochester Cremation. Knowing that compassionate professionals are available can bring reassurance and peace to their difficult journey. Creating a Comfortable Environment for Healing When it comes to helping a grieving friend, creating an environment that allows for open conversation is critical. While checking in on them is appreciated, remember to approach them sensitively. Each day might feel different for your friend, so the time you spend together should evolve based on their needs and feelings. Inviting your friend out for a walk—some fresh air can aid in emotional healing—might help distract them from their grief, although it’s essential not to force social interaction if they seem disinterested. The simplest gestures, like a text message to let them know you’re thinking of them, can go a long way, even if they don’t respond immediately. Respecting Boundaries and Understanding Signs of Need While offering support, it’s just as vital to acknowledge when to step back. Everyone’s process is unique, and not everyone is comfortable discussing their grief openly. Pay attention to their cues; if they seem withdrawn or if they indicate a desire for solitude, honor that choice. Encourage professional support if needed. Whether it’s suggesting a grief counselor or attending a support group together, prioritizing their mental health by finding professional help can be a game changer. Informing them about available local resources shows that you care and are looking out for their well-being. The road following a loss is fraught with challenges. Yet, knowing we can play a role in transforming a friend’s grief reality can inspire hope. In conclusion, as we support our friends during these heartbreaking times, let’s embrace compassion and understanding, remembering our larger community as we navigate the journey together. If you have questions regarding resources or services through Rochester, NY funeral homes, reach out for help. The existence of compassionate professionals at places like Rochester Cremation highlights that support is always within reach.

The Future of Deathcare Symposium: Post-Event Wrap Up

WHEELING, IL— The Wake Forest Law Review 2024 Spring Symposium hosted panels and presentations to discuss The Future of Death Care in America on Friday, March 1, 2024. Livestreamed from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the Symposium brought together leaders in the death care industry, academics, and influential reformers to discuss key issues facing the rapidly evolving changes in death care. Presenters shared their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities the funeral service faces now and in the future, including the Funeral Rule, new disposition methods, and licensure of funeral directors. A total of 780 people registered for the event, attending in person or via livestream and recordings.

Keynote speaker Caitlin Doughty opened the day with an overview of current and future trends in death care. A mortician, writer, and advocate for funeral industry reform, Doughty is the founder of the non-profit The Order of the Good Death, which spawned the death positive movement and is working to legalize human composting and aquamation in all 50 states.

The program began with Panel One: Regulating New Methods of Disposition. Moderated by funeral director descendent and Virginia Tech Professor Phil Olson, the first session explored how new methods of disposition are legalized and regulated and how the process might be improved in the future. The panel included Victoria J. Haneman, JD, LLM, Professor of Trusts & Estates and Associate Dean of Research and Innovation at Creighton University School of Law; Barbara Kemmis, Executive Director of the Cremation Association of North America (CANA); and Katrina Spade, Founder & CEO of Recompose, the world’s first human composting company.

Next up was a look at Abandoned Cemeteries. This was an overview of a project to map and repair cemeteries in North Carolina, presented by Dr. Terry Brock, Director of Cultural Heritage & Archaeology Research Group at Wake Forest University.

Panel Two: Licensing Funeral Directors, moderated by retired Kenyon College Professor David Harrington, examined the challenges and opportunities presented by licensure in death care. Panelists included Dr. Hari P. Close, II, Founder and CEO of Hari P. Close Funeral Services in Baltimore, Maryland, and Past President of the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association; Renée D. Flaherty, Senior Attorney at the Institute for Justice, which litigates constitutional cases protecting individuals from government abuse; and, Caressa Hughes, Assistant Vice President of Government and Industry Relations for Service Corporation International, who has over 30 years of experience with government relations.

In the final segment, Panel Three: Consumer Protection — The Future of the Funeral Rule, panelists discussed the challenges and opportunities presented by the sole federal regulation of the funeral service profession: the US Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule. Moderated by Wake Forest Law Professor Tanya Marsh, who teaches the only Funeral and Cemetery Law course in the US, the panelists were Isabel Knight, President of the National Home Funeral Alliance, an organization that educates families and communities to care for their own loved ones after death; Poul Lemasters, Esq., General Counsel of the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association, who has over 20 years of experience in funeral service; and Sarah Pojanowski, who has served as General Counsel for Selected Independent Funeral Homes for over a decade.

“In these times of contention and disagreement, it was genuinely heartening to see these seasoned experts and young aspirants meet to share serious ideas and participate in difficult discussions about the challenges ahead for our industry,” said CANA Executive Director Barbara Kemmis. “With their diverse range of backgrounds and perspectives, participants were able to generate stimulating conversations that made for a very fruitful and thought-provoking meeting.”

As an organization committed to meeting the future head on, the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) was proud to sponsor a program with such a diverse range of perspectives on the future of death care. If you couldn’t attend the event in person or watch the livestream, you haven’t missed out! Recordings of the Symposium sessions are available at cremationassociation.org/wakeforest.

About CANA

Founded in 1913, the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) is an international organization of over 3,700 members, composed of funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, industry suppliers, and consultants. CANA members believe that cremation is preparation for memorialization. For more information about CANA, visit www.CremationAssociation.org.

About Wake Forest Law Review

The Wake Forest Law Review is a student-run organization that publishes five issues annually. The Law Review also sponsors symposia. The Symposium changes topics yearly. Through the publication of articles, notes, comments, and empirical legal studies, the Law Review provides the profession with timely evaluations of current problems in the law and serves students as a valuable educational tool.