Mourning a Loss from Afar

Losing a loved one is often an extremely difficult experience for those who lived, worked and spent time with the individual every day. However, you may find yourself living far away from the individual at the time of their passing. Handling this loss from afar often creates a vastly different experience; being unable to pay respects in person, spend time with others who knew the individual or have the community support nearby can cause extreme feelings of guilt and sadness.

For those who lose a loved one while living or working in another state or country, the mourning process may require additional effort to reach out to loved ones and work through grief. If possible, attending the funeral may help expedite the healing process, although this may not be plausible for everyone. As coordinators of memorial services in Westchester, IL, we’ve witnessed the mourning processes of loved ones near and far. To help you mourn from afar, try some of these tips.

Acknowledge the loss

If you live in another part of the world from your deceased loved one, it can be difficult to process the immediacy of their passing. When the loved one is not a part of your day-to-day life, you may have trouble acknowledging your loss because their absence is not immediately apparent.

To help you acknowledge the loss of your loved one, take time to reflect on the individual by yourself and work through your feelings. It can also help to speak to family and friends who knew the individual and discuss the loss and express your feelings.

Participate in the mourning process

If you are unable to make it to the funeral or memorial services, make an effort to participate in the mourning process in other ways. You can send flowers, speak with close loved ones about the loss and take part in other memorializing tactics from afar.

If you find yourself having trouble dealing with the loss without the support of the family and friends who are away, you may consider attending a support group or counseling, if necessary. If you are able to visit the hometown of the loved one after the time of the funeral, try visiting the gravesite to pay your respects.

Let go of guilt

Loved ones who are unable to attend their loved one’s funeral or be there in their time of passing often harbor a sense of guilt. Guilty feelings will not help your mourning process, so try as hard as you can to release these feelings and pay your respects in other ways.

Memories can be cherished no matter how near or far you live from the loved one. Focus on fond memories you shared with the deceased individual. Going online to their social media accounts can also help you reflect on their life and memories you may have shared. This is often an integral part of the grieving process for everyone.

Cherish personal items or other memorializing effects

If you possess any personal items of the deceased individual, take time to cherish those and put them in a place where you can be reminded of the love you had for them. If you do not have any personal items, you can create a scrapbook, photo box or other memory items to help you reflect on your relationship that you can cherish for the rest of your life.

If your loved one has recently passed away and you require help arranging memorial services in Westchester, IL, contact Marik-Baken Funeral Services Ltd. We offer traditional funeral services, memorials services, cremation and other arrangements to meet your specific needs.

Categorised in: Memorial Services

This post was written by Writer