Open to Hope Articles

Do you want to read stories of others who have been where you are? Are you looking for bereavement help, and advice? Look no further. We offer over 7,000 articles written by our Open to Hope authors.

Articles Home

Open to hope

Grieving the Loss of a Loved One

Posted on November 28, 2006 - by admin

My brother-in-law died suddenly last month when he fell from a ladder. We drove to Maryland where we celebrated Don’s life and visited with my husband’s family. Don was cremated so there was no physical body for anyone to ogle. Don was an avid fisherman and loved to be near the water. It only seemed appropriate that his celebration was held at the beach house of some dear friends who live on the eastern shore. Each person who wanted to speak was given a turn to share a story about Don. Afterward, Jimmy Buffet music played and margaritas flowed

Read More
Open to hope

How to Handle Grief and Loss With Your Children

Posted on November 28, 2006 - by admin

Dealing with any kind of loss with a child or children is a task that most adults dread. Best friends can move away, a car can kill a favorite pet, a schoolmate can be killed in an auto accident, and Grandma may die suddenly are all situations that parents can face. In any case, a parent should handle the loss with dignity and quality so the child learns how to deal by comparison.

Read More
Open to hope

GriefWorks Update

Posted on November 28, 2006 - by admin

We know that the holidays can be an especially difficult time after a loved one has died. GriefWorks? winter newsletter, which is attached, offers special support for this time of year. It also includes our schedule of upcoming programs and services. Please note that we have cancelled the Night of Remembrance service originally schedule for Friday December 8. We invite you to instead join us at our Public Forum on Thursday November 30, from 7-8:30 p.m., which will be followed by a brief service of remembrance. There is no cost and no need to register. For more information, please see […]

Read More
Open to hope

A Note from Dr. Rick Tedeschi

Posted on November 28, 2006 - by admin

Gloria?Here are the five domains of growth as we describe them on our website?www.ptgi.uncc.edu What forms does posttraumatic growth take? Posttraumatic growth tends to occur in five general areas. Sometimes people who must face major life crises develop a sense that new opportunities have emerged from the struggle, opening up possibilities that were not present before. A second area is a change in relationships with others. Some people experience closer relationships with some specific people, and they can also experience an increased sense of connection to others who suffer.. A third area of possible change is an increased sense of […]

Read More
Open to hope

The Gift of Keith

Posted on November 28, 2006 - by Carol Loehr

Dear Friends, As you may know, our son Keith Loehr died by suicide in 1999. Since then, Carol has created and maintained a website to help those who have suffered a loss by suicide and to help counselors and clergy better understand depression and suicide. Carol has just recently published “My Uncle Keith Died” which is a children’s book to help families and children understand depression and understand the importance of talking about their feelings and getting help for people (especially children) who are depressed. Unfortunately, suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death in the USA among adolescents and […]

Read More
Open to hope

Ten Things Every New Widow Should Know to Survive

Posted on November 27, 2006 - by Linda Della-Donna

Then you suddenly find yourself without your life partner, you don’t know what to expect. Your world’s been turned upside down. Like the mighty oak caught in a fierce wind, you feel uprooted. Your feet don’t touch the ground. You think you’re crazy. But you’re not. You’re just a new widow. Your husband is dead and your life is forever changed.

Read More
Open to hope

Grief Poem: Where the Soul Never Dies

Posted on November 27, 2006 - by admin

This interesting article addresses some of the key issues regarding death resources. A careful reading of this material could make a big difference in how you think about death. Each of us find ourselves wondering about dying. This introspective look at our future engages our hearts and minds to enter into what we cannot embrace. Sometimes, words are so limiting and are sometimes best captured in a poem. This poem is a reflection of what I am trying to describe. Where the Soul Never Dies Nature, a reflection of our soul, reveals the seasons of our lives. Like people, earth’s […]

Read More
Open to hope

Grief Poem: Mother, I Don’t Mind The Pain

Posted on November 27, 2006 - by admin

I am among those who know that one never recovers from the loss of one deeply loved. We come to accept the death and adjust our lives – rather begrudingly, but we do not recover, we survive. Somewhere in the grief process, we make the decision to survive and then we are emotionally enabled to build a different kind of relationship with our deceased loved one. Mother, I Don’t Mind The Pain When you died my dearest, blessed mother, I had no sights or thoughts for tomorrow. My soul experienced a wrenching eruption

Read More
Open to hope

Palliative Care – Helping You Care For Your Terminally Ill Loved One

Posted on November 27, 2006 - by admin

Ask most people what they know about Palliative Care and they will inevitably reply that it is intended for those who are dying. Undeniably, Palliative Care is available to support families at this sad time, however their services are equally intended to provide physical, emotional and spiritual support to the patient and their families as they journey through terminal illness.

Read More
Open to hope

Song of Cy – Understanding Grief: Book Review

Posted on November 26, 2006 - by admin

Are you a step-parent, parent, sibling, grandparent or friend of a deceased person? Then this book is for you! A delicately written and moving piece of work that is electrically charged with Katlyn Stewart?s love and grief for her daughter. Join in the celebration of life through Katlyn?s tale recounting her daughter?s life and learn about the grieving process.

Read More

Foundation

Get Involved

Resources

Copyright © 2026 Open to Hope