The free 12-page booklet, “Grieving Alone & Together: Responding to the Loss of Your Loved One During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” is available to funeral professionals at FuneralServiceFoundation.org and to families at RememberingALife.com.
Brookfield, WI – The Funeral Service Foundation and the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) have teamed up to offer a free 12-page booklet entitled “Grieving Alone & Together: Responding to the Loss of Your Loved One during the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Written by certified thanatologist Sara Murphy, Ph.D., CT, with a forward by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D., the booklet offers guidance to anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one during the pandemic or who would like to learn how they can support those who have.
Funded by the Funeral Service Foundation’s COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund and created in partnership with NFDA as part of its consumer outreach and education initiative, Remembering A Life, the booklet is available at no charge to all of funeral service to share with families and community outreach organizations.
“Now more than ever, funeral service professionals are called upon to safely and compassionately serve families and communities,” said Foundation Chair Anthony Guerra. “The Foundation, through our COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund, is honored to equip our last responders with a free resource that will help them further strengthen those community bonds.”
The resource covers the nature of grief; traumatic loss and its triggers; ambiguous losses; and the risk of disenfranchised grief. It also addresses the importance of talking to children about death and memorialization and the difficulties of being separated from a loved one at the time of their death. The booklet provides guidance on how families can meaningfully celebrate the life of their loved one and discusses the importance of maintaining your health while grieving.
“This pandemic has put us in new territory when it comes to grieving the death of a loved one,” said R. Bryant Hightower, president of the National Funeral Directors Association. “I cannot imagine how painful it is for families to, not only be dealing with the death of their loved one, but also be unable to fully participate in the traditions and rituals that bring them comfort. It’s my hope that this booklet will help families find meaningful ways to honor the life of their loved one and begin to grieve and heal. I urge funeral directors everywhere to join me in making this resource available in their communities.”
Funeral service professionals and all who serve grieving families can order free copies via funeralservicefoundation.org. Those interested simply pay shipping. An e-book version that funeral homes and organizations can embed on websites and share on social media platforms is also available online.
On RememberingALife.com, consumers can read a digital version of the booklet or request a free printed copy. The booklet will be shared with consumers via the Remembering A Life social media channels.
Support the COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund
Gifts to the Funeral Service Foundation COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund directly support funeral service and grieving families in this time of loss and uncertainty. Since its launch last month, which began with a $200,000 allocation from the Funeral Service Foundation, individuals, funeral homes, and businesses across the U.S. and Canada have already answered the call to give. Notable contributions include a $50,000 lead gift from the National Funeral Directors Association, and a $100,000 matching gift from Homesteaders Life Company, which allows donors to double their impact.
One-time or monthly gifts at every level can be made online at https://funeralservicefoundation.org/covid19fund/. Those interested in supporting may also send checks, made payable to the Funeral Service Foundation to the FSF COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund, 13625 Bishop’s Drive, Brookfield, WI 53005, or call 262-814-1549 to make a gift by phone.