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Is Visiting a Gravesite a Help?

Posted on May 26, 2016 - by Harriet Hodgson

We don’t visit our daughter’s grave. While this is a shocking statement for some, others understand our feelings. Whether or not to visit a gravesite is a personal decision, based on religious and spiritual beliefs, relationship with the deceased, the grief work that has been done, current feelings, and plans for the future. The comfort derived from a visit is another factor. On the first anniversary of our daughter’s death my husband and I, family members, and a few of her friends, gathered at her gravesite. I passed out a list of my daughter’s values—practices that she lived by […]

You’ve Got a Friend: Spending Time with Fellow Grievers

Posted on May 25, 2016 - by Sue Trace Lawrence

As a psychologist, I have learned how important the human need to belong and feel appreciated is to mental health. But what happens when we lose an important relationship, especially during childhood? How does the death of a close loved one affect a little one, when personality and self-esteem are still in the formative stages? What are the consequences of having an important person ripped out of one’s life? These are the questions that have plagued me for a long time, ever since I have been aware of the effects on my own psyche of losing a brother during my […]

Learning to Accept Life’s Multiple Truths

Posted on May 25, 2016 - by Charles W. Sidoti

One of my duties as a hospital chaplain is to plan and conduct memorial services at the hospital when an employee dies. This may happen several times a year. I usually try to arrange for someone to sing a reflective song as part of the service. There are several employees that sing in church choirs, and some who even sing professionally and are willing to share their talent at these special gatherings. I recall when Bernard, who runs the information desk in the main lobby, sang a song called “Life Is Hard But God Is Good.” The song was a […]

Therese Wenner: Cranial Sacral

Posted on May 24, 2016 - by Gloria Horsley

If you haven’t heard of cranial sacral work before, you’re not alone. Dr. Gloria Horsley interviews Therese Wenner at the National Alliance for Grieving Children conference, and discusses the benefits of this form of therapy. Based in Olympia, Washington, Wenner has a private practice that focuses on cranial sacral therapy. For those in grief, this can be very calming to your entire system. Many people need a lot of calming, but may not know where to turn. This is a form of therapy that deals with the core system in your body—the central nervous system, but accessed in a gentle […]

Love, Separation, and the ‘Dance Full of Mystery’

Posted on May 23, 2016 - by Thomas Attig

The author of How We Grieve: Relearning the World, Dr. Tom Attig, talks about love and separation with the Open to Hope Foundation. As a philosopher, Dr. Attig takes a unique approach to teaching and talking about grief. Loving someone is a dance full of mystery, he explains. With every dance partner, you can feel the precariousness of the relationship. This can be with a parent, child, partner, or even a pet. The death of their soul eludes you. The movements of each dance goes beyond any perceived imperfections. Whether a loss is sudden or expected, what can you do […]

Years of Love: Measuring a Life After a Loss

Posted on May 22, 2016 - by Judy Lipson

Years astound me. Forever etched in my mind a calculation of time, reminders, anniversaries, dates, and birthdays. I still find it hard to believe August 1, 2015, marked the 25th anniversary we lost my beloved sister Margie. To celebrate my 25th birthday in October 1981 marked the last time I saw my beloved sister Jane who passed away November 7, 1981. I am 59 — longer than the sum total both my sisters lived; Jane passed away at 22 and Margie 35. My daughters are now 29 and 30. Where do the years go? At times so quickly and others […]

Dorenzer Thomas: Roberta’s House, Faith, Music and Grief

Posted on May 21, 2016 - by Jessica Tyner Mehta

Dr. Gloria Horsley connects with Dorenzer Thomas of to talk about how faith and music can be integral to the healing process. She’s the Youth Coordinator of Programming and works closely with children and families who are bereaved. Located in Baltimore, Roberta’s House is the only such grief center in the area. Thomas also holds an office in her church, and she’s chairman of the church council. She says spirituality is essential, and the bible is used at times in Roberta’s House. However, everyone needs someone to talk to when going through a loss. If you have faith in […]

Jamie Yetter: Families and Organ Donation

Posted on May 20, 2016 - by Gloria Horsley

The family services coordinator with the Arkansas Regional Organ Recovery Agency (ARORA), Jamie Yetter, sat down with Dr. Gloria Horsley to discuss organ donation. Families and organ donation is a tricky subject. As a chaplain, Yetter gets referrals from hospitals about someone who potentially is an organ donor. Yetter goes on-site to see if the patient really is a potential donor. She then works with the physician and medical team to find out the plan of action. Most importantly, when appropriate, she begins to support and accompany the family through end of life care and organ donation. Her role was […]

Managing A Death Anniversary

Posted on May 19, 2016 - by Susan Kaden

After losing my husband to brain cancer last year, I was often warned about the one-year anniversary of losing a loved one. The Death Anniversary. I was no stranger to this feeling; I had lost my father when I was a kid and my mother passed away the year before last… except this time was different. This time it wasn’t just me I had to worry about, but how my kids would handle it too. As the day approached I experienced many different emotions, as did those around me. After coping with the day, I now have some wisdom to […]

Mother’s Day Memories

Posted on May 17, 2016 - by Carla J Vagnini

Let me just start by saying it was a wonderful Mother’s Day surprise to see that the Open to Hope Foundation wanted me to write articles for them! It made getting up at 4am today to catch my 5am bus all worth it. My Mother’s Day was not one of the best, and therefore I told my husband I officially claim a “do-over”. You see, my husband and I were serving wine at a winery in Northern Virginia. It was a beautiful day, after what seemed like weeks of rain, and the winery had a great Mother’s Day event planned. […]