Blog
Practical articles to help families navigate funeral planning, grief, and end-of-life decisions with clarity.
When Is It Okay to Start Dating Again After a Significant Loss?
The short answer: There is no universal timeline for when it is 'okay' to date after loss. Research and grief counselors generally suggest waiting until you have moved through the acute grief phase (often a year or more for spousal loss, though this varies widely), feel emotionally stable, and are seeking connection from a place of wholeness rather than escape. But the timing is deeply personal. Why There Is No Single "Right" Time The question "how soon is too soon to date after losing a spou
How Does Grief Journaling Help and What Should You Write About?
The short answer: Grief journaling — writing about your loss, memories, and feelings — can significantly reduce grief's intensity over time. Research shows expressive writing about loss reduces stress hormones, supports immune function, and helps the bereaved make meaning from loss. You don't need to write well or follow rules — just write honestly for 15–20 minutes at a time. The Research Behind Grief Journaling Psychologist James Pennebaker's groundbreaking research on expressive writing sh
What Is COVID Grief and How Does Pandemic Loss Affect Bereavement?
The short answer: COVID grief refers to the specific grief experiences created by the pandemic — including loss of loved ones to COVID-19, often under traumatic circumstances (isolation, inability to be present at death), as well as collective grief for normalcy, safety, and connection. Research shows COVID bereavement carries elevated rates of complicated grief, trauma, and prolonged grief disorder. What Made COVID Grief Different The COVID-19 pandemic created grief conditions that amplified
How Do You Find a Death Doula in New Orleans, Louisiana?
The short answer: To find a death doula in New Orleans, Louisiana, search NEDA (National End-of-Life Doula Alliance), INELDA, or Renidy's doula finder. New Orleans has a uniquely death-positive culture — rooted in jazz funerals, Creole Catholic traditions, Vodou, and the city's historic relationship with death — that makes it one of America's most interesting cities for end-of-life care. New Orleans: America's Most Death-Positive City New Orleans has a relationship with death unlike any other
What Do You Say When You Visit Someone Who Is Dying?
The short answer: When visiting someone who is dying, the most important things to say are simple: 'I love you,' 'I'm here,' 'You've meant so much to me,' and 'It's okay to go.' You don't need eloquent words — presence and love matter more than perfect phrases. Many dying people benefit from hearing that the people they love will be okay. Why We're Afraid of Saying the Wrong Thing Fear of saying the wrong thing keeps many people away from the bedside of someone who is dying — which means the
What Does End-of-Life Care Look Like for Stomach Cancer?
The short answer: End-of-life care for stomach (gastric) cancer focuses on managing severe nausea, inability to eat, pain, and the complications of advanced disease. Gastric cancer has a poor prognosis when diagnosed at advanced stages; most patients in the US are diagnosed at stage III or IV. Hospice is appropriate when systemic therapy is no longer effective and comfort is the priority. Gastric Cancer Prognosis and Why End-of-Life Planning Matters Early Stomach (gastric) cancer is one of th
Can You Feel Grateful While Grieving? How Gratitude and Loss Coexist
The short answer: Yes — grief and gratitude can coexist, and research suggests they often should. Gratitude in grief is not about minimizing loss or pretending to feel what you don't. It is about holding two truths simultaneously: the devastating reality of loss, and the gift of having loved and been loved. This capacity for both/and thinking is associated with greater resilience and more integrated grieving. The Myth That You Can't Grieve Deeply and Feel Gratitude A persistent cultural messa
What Are Puerto Rican End-of-Life Traditions and Funeral Customs?
The short answer: Puerto Rican end-of-life traditions blend Spanish Catholic heritage, Taino indigenous influences, and African spiritual practices (Santería/espiritismo). The velorio (wake) is central — an overnight community gathering of family and friends with prayer, food, and collective mourning. Nine nights of prayer (novenario) follow, and death anniversaries are observed annually. The Religious and Cultural Foundation Puerto Rican death culture reflects the island's complex heritage.
What Is Spiritual Bypassing in Grief and Why Is It Harmful?
The short answer: Spiritual bypassing in grief means using spiritual beliefs or practices to avoid fully experiencing grief — jumping to 'they're in a better place' or 'everything happens for a reason' in ways that short-circuit rather than support the grieving process. It can come from the bereaved person or from well-meaning others. Healthy spirituality in grief holds both faith and fully felt loss. What Is Spiritual Bypassing? Spiritual bypassing is a term coined by psychologist John Welwo
How Do You Find a Death Doula in Boise, Idaho?
The short answer: To find a death doula in Boise, Idaho, search NEDA (National End-of-Life Doula Alliance), INELDA, or Renidy's doula finder. Boise's growing and increasingly diverse population has supported a developing end-of-life care community, with doulas serving Ada County and the broader Treasure Valley region including Nampa, Caldwell, and Meridian. Death Doula Services in Boise, Idaho Boise is Idaho's capital and largest city, and has experienced rapid population growth making it one
What Does End-of-Life Care Look Like for Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)?
The short answer: End-of-life care for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) focuses primarily on managing progressive, distressing breathlessness — the defining and most feared symptom of this disease. IPF has a median survival of 3–5 years after diagnosis; hospice is appropriate when lung function has declined significantly and quality of life is severely impaired. Opioids are the most effective treatment for breathlessness in IPF. Understanding IPF and Its Trajectory Idiopathic pulmonary fib
How Do You Find a Death Doula in Spokane, Washington?
The short answer: To find a death doula in Spokane, Washington, search NEDA (National End-of-Life Doula Alliance), INELDA, or Renidy's doula finder. Spokane is the hub of eastern Washington's end-of-life care community, with doulas serving the Inland Northwest region including Coeur d'Alene, ID and the broader Spokane-Whitman-Lincoln County area. Death Doula Services in Spokane, Washington Spokane, Washington's second-largest city, serves as the medical and commercial hub for a large inland N
What Is a Death Cafe and How Do You Host One?
The short answer: A death cafe is an informal, structured gathering where people meet to talk openly about death and dying over coffee and cake — with no agenda, no grief support group format, and no expectation of expertise. The movement was founded by Jon Underwood in 2011 and has since spread globally, with thousands of death cafes held in 70+ countries. Anyone can host one. What Happens at a Death Cafe A death cafe is not a therapy group, a grief support meeting, or a lecture. It is a str
How Does Grief Affect Perfectionists and High Achievers?
The short answer: Grief hits perfectionists and high achievers particularly hard because grief cannot be optimized, completed, or controlled. The same traits that drive achievement — control, productivity, high standards, forward momentum — become obstacles in grief, which requires surrender, patience, and tolerance for chaos. Recognizing this tension is the first step toward healing. Why Grief Defies Achievement Strategies Perfectionists and high achievers tend to approach problems with the
What Are Guatemalan and Mayan End-of-Life Traditions and Funeral Customs?
The short answer: Guatemalan end-of-life traditions reflect a rich blend of Maya Indigenous spiritual practices, Spanish Catholic influence, and local community customs that vary significantly by region and Indigenous linguistic group. Communal wakes, colorful cemetery practices, and the blending of Catholic and Maya cosmological beliefs shape how Guatemalans approach death and mourning. The Two Streams: Catholic and Maya Indigenous Traditions Guatemala's death culture cannot be understood wi
How Is Loneliness in Grief Different from Healing Solitude?
The short answer: Loneliness in grief is a painful, unwanted sense of disconnection — from others and from your old self. Solitude is different: it is chosen time alone that can facilitate reflection, integration, and healing. Learning to move from involuntary loneliness toward intentional solitude is part of the grief journey. Both experiences deserve attention. The Loneliness of Grief Grief is lonely in a specific and particular way. Even surrounded by people — at the funeral, at the recept
How Do You Find a Death Doula in Des Moines, Iowa?
The short answer: To find a death doula in Des Moines, Iowa, search NEDA (National End-of-Life Doula Alliance), INELDA, or Renidy's doula finder. Des Moines has a developing end-of-life care community with doulas serving Polk County and the greater central Iowa region, including Ames, Ankeny, West Des Moines, and surrounding communities. Death Doula Services in Des Moines, Iowa Des Moines is Iowa's capital and largest city, and serves as the hub for end-of-life care in central Iowa. Death dou
What Does End-of-Life Care Look Like for Scleroderma?
The short answer: End-of-life care for scleroderma (systemic sclerosis) addresses the complications of this rare autoimmune disease — pulmonary arterial hypertension, interstitial lung disease, renal crisis, and severe gastrointestinal involvement. The disease trajectory is highly variable, and most hospice teams have limited experience with it. Connecting with a specialist palliative care team familiar with scleroderma is important. Understanding Scleroderma and Its End-Stage Complications S
How Do You Find a Death Doula in Omaha, Nebraska?
The short answer: To find a death doula in Omaha, Nebraska, search NEDA (National End-of-Life Doula Alliance), INELDA, or Renidy's doula finder. Omaha's end-of-life care community is growing, with doulas serving the greater metro including Council Bluffs, Iowa and surrounding Douglas and Sarpy County communities. Death Doula Services in Omaha, Nebraska Omaha is Nebraska's largest city and the hub for end-of-life care across a large geographic region spanning eastern Nebraska and western Iowa.
How Do You Choose a Death Doula? Key Questions to Ask
The short answer: Choosing a death doula means finding someone whose training, experience, approach, and personality fit your family's needs. Key questions cover their background and training, specific services offered, availability (including nights and weekends), cultural and religious sensitivity, and what happens if they're unavailable when you need them. Many doulas offer a free consultation call. Why Choosing the Right Doula Matters A death doula will be present at some of the most inti