Below is a list of helpful resources which have been sorted by different types of loss. We hope you will find words of comfort and guidance within the selection we have offered.
Memory Sharing – Gather you family and friends (virtually/online) and ask each to share a memory of your loved one. Take turns telling your stories and feelings about your special person. Pick one characteristic that each person really identified with you loved one. End the session with a moment of silence in which family/friends are invited to send loving thoughts to your loved one.
Create Comfort Stones – Take a walk (following safe distance guidelines) and collect small, smooth stones. Using a permanent marker, write your favorite things about your loved one or maybe things he/she would often say, or maybe I love you – I miss you.
Cook Your Loved One’s Favorite Foods – Create a meal using ingredients that your love one enjoyed the most. Perhaps make a special seat at the dinner table for your loved one.
Create a Playlist – Use a collection of your loved one’s favorite songs and share with friends and family.
Light a Candle – and perhaps ask family and friends to light a candle: In Remembrance. In Hope.
Create a Stamp – You can upload a photo and create a stamp that can be legally used to mail letters. http://www.photostamps.com
Make a Facebook Memorial Page – Invite others to share stories and photos of your loved one. Consider a memory board on Pinterest or post favorite photos on Instagram.
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Children/Teens and Grief
A list of recommended books pertaining to grief.
A powerful video resource for those who are moving through childhood bereavement
National Alliance for Grieving Children
Support for grieving childrenThe Dougy Center
Safe and supportive place for children, teens, young adults and their families grieving a deathThe Donald C. Liu SLAP’D Foundation
Social media for teens to connect through the shared experience of parent lossGrief.com
Videos and resources to help with grief including children & griefWhat’s Your Grief
Informative grief discussions and supportChill and Spill
Art therapy based grief journal for children 11+A Network for Grateful Living – Light a Candle
Light a Candle is a unique concept that has pages of candles that people can “light” and attach a person’s name, along with reason a candle is being lit for them.https://www.newyorklife.com/foundation/kais-journey
The New York Life Foundation has released the first installment of Kai’s Journey, The Golden Sweater, a :60 animated film and free downloadable children’s book along with a discussion guide for families at www.goldensweater.org. This story chronicles a child’s journey through loss, grief, resiliency and healing. We are proud to share this tool that can be used to discuss the important, yet very difficult, topic of death with children, especially during this time. For every download of the book, the New York Life Foundation will donate $1.00 to support organizations like the National Alliance for Grieving Children, to support grieving children and families plus other childhood bereavement organizations, including Eluna, Comfort Zone, and TAPS, up to $175,000.
Sesame Street
Video to help young children understand death of a loved oneElmo and Andrew Garfield discuss the loss of Andrew’s mother.
Hopes Heroes
Video to help young children understand tissue donationThe Cove Center
Connecticut
1-800-750-2683The Children’s Room
Massachusetts
1-781-641-4741Comfort Zone Camp
Massachusetts
1-866-488-5679The Center for Grieving Children
Maine
1-207-775-5216Friends Way
Rhode Island
1-401-921-0980https://indd.adobe.com/view/924b5436-fca0-4a15-901a-9233134766e4
Responding to Change & Loss – A printable booklet for parents/caregivers to support children & teens. Created by the National Alliance for Grieving Children
The Next Place by Warren Hanson
Waldman House Press, 1997Lifetimes: The Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Children by Bryan Mellonie and Robert Ingpen
Michelle Anderson Publishing, 1983My Grieving Journey Book by Donna and Eve Shavatt
Paulist Press, 2001 -
Loss of a Child
Offers parents comprehensive bereavement care
The Compassionate Friends
Support for loss of a child at any ageBereaved Parents of the USA
Loss of a childA Bed for My Heart
Loss of a childOpen to Hope
General grief site with information on loss of a childGrief.com
Videos and resources to help with grief, including loss of a childBabySteps
Recommended readings on child loss, with links to resourcesAlive Alone
Support for parents whose only child or all children have died.What’s Your Grief
Informative grief discussions and supportA Network for Grateful Living – Light a Candle
Light a Candle is a unique concept that has pages of candles that people can “light” and attach a person’s name, along with reason a candle is being lit for them.Beyond Tears: Living After Losing a Child by Ellen Mitchell
St. Martin’s Press, 2004, revised 2009The Death of a Child by Elaine E. Stillwell
ACTA Publications, 2004The Worst Loss: How families heal from the death of a child by Barbara D. Rosof
Henry Holt & Co., 1994 -
Loss of a Parent
Open to Hope
General grief support including loss of a parentGrieving.com
Support for many types of grief, including a forum for loss of a parentWhat’s Your Grief
Informative grief discussions and supportA Network for Grateful Living – Light a Candle
Light a Candle is a unique concept that has pages of candles that people can “light” and attach a person’s name, along with reason a candle is being lit for them.Motherless Daughters by Hope Edelman
Publisher Da Capo Press, 2014When Parents Die by Edward Myers
Penguin Books, 1997Nobody’s Child Anymore by Barbara Bartocci
Sorin Books, 2000The Orphaned Adult: Understanding and Coping with Grief and Change After the Death of Our Parents by Alexander Levy
Perseus Publishing, 1999 -
Loss of a Spouse
AARP – Grief and Loss Article
Articles, support and resources for coping with the loss of spouse or partner. Online discussions with others who have experienced this loss.The Centre for the Grief Journey
Comprehensive grief support online, including loss of a spouseWhat’s Your Grief
Informative grief discussions and supportA Network for Grateful Living – Light a Candle
Light a Candle is a unique concept that has pages of candles that people can “light” and attach a person’s name, along with reason a candle is being lit for them.The Tender Scar: Life After the Death of a Spouse by Richard Mabry
Kregel Publications 2006A Widow’s Story by Joyce Carol Oates
The Ontario Review, Inc, 2011 -
Loss of a Sibling
What’s Your Grief
Informative grief discussions and supportA Network for Grateful Living – Light a Candle
Light a Candle is a unique concept that has pages of candles that people can “light” and attach a person’s name, along with reason a candle is being lit for them.Surviving the Death of a Sibling by T. J. Wray
Three Rivers Press, 2003Sibling Grief: Healing After the Death of a Sister or Brother by P. Gill White
iUniverse, 2006 -
Loss of a Friend
What’s Your Grief – When Your Best Friend Dies Article
Grief support for when your best friend diesWhat’s Your Grief
Informative grief discussions and supportA Network for Grateful Living – Light a Candle
Light a Candle is a unique concept that has pages of candles that people can “light” and attach a person’s name, along with reason a candle is being lit for them.Losing Your Best Friend by Frosty Wooldridge
Publisher AuthorHouse, 2010Grieving the Death of a Friend by Harold Ivan Smith
Augsburg Fortress, 1996 -
Death by Suicide
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Information and education about suicide, links to resources and survivor stories.Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE)
Education about depression, suicide and suicide prevention. Recommended reading list and links to other resources.Alliance of Hope for Suicide Survivors
Information for suicide survivors along with a 24/7 forum for survivors to connect with one another to share their thoughts and stories.Friends for Survival
National outreach organization available to those grieving a suicide death.HEARTBEAT
A mutual support website offering empathy, comfort and more to suicide survivors.Parents of Suicide – Friends of Suicide
Parents of suicide and friends and families of suicide support.Suicide: Finding Hope
Informative site dealing with many sides of suicideWhat’s Your Grief
Informative grief discussions and supportA Network for Grateful Living – Light a Candle
Light a Candle is a unique concept that has pages of candles that people can “light” and attach a person’s name, along with reason a candle is being lit for them.No Time to Say Goodbye: Surviving the Suicide of a Loved One by Carla Fine
Publisher Broadway Books 1997Touched by Suicide Hope and Healing After Loss by Michael F. Myers, M.D. and Carla Fine
Published by Penguin Group 2006A Grief Like No Other by Kathleen O’Hara, MA
Marlowe & Company, 2007Silent Grief: Living in the Wake of Suicide by Christopher Lukas & Henry M. Seiden
Jessica Kinglsey Publishers, 2007 -
Death by Homicide
The National Organization of Parents Of Murdered Children
Parents of murdered children. National organization with message boards, support services, legal tips and advice from experts regarding autopsies, investigations, media coverage, etc.VictimConnect
Informative site which also discusses grief reactions to homicide loss.Grief.com – Grief after a Murder
Helpful site for homicide lossWhat’s Your Grief
Informative grief discussions and supportA Network for Grateful Living – Light a Candle
Light a Candle is a unique concept that has pages of candles that people can “light” and attach a person’s name, along with reason a candle is being lit for them.Grief Diaries: Surviving Loss by Homicide by Lynda Cheldelin Fell, Donna R. Gore M.A. and Nicola Belisle Publisher AlyBlue Media, LLC 2016
A Grief Like No Other by Kathleen O’Hara, MA
Marlowe & Company, 2007 -
General Grief Resources
https://whatsyourgrief.com/types-of-grief-2/
7 Types of Grief You Should Know Right Now
Checklist of Tasks After the Death of a Family Member of Friend
A document to help you stay organized as you move through the first few weeks to months following a loss
Research based article focusing on how grief may affect one’s sleep
The Centre for the Grief Journey
Comprehensive grief support onlineOpen to Hope
Has a mission to help people find hope after lossHopeful Transitions
Provides grief resources and videosGrief.com
Videos and resources to help with griefGrieving.com
Support for many types of lossRefuge in Grief
Loss support, “emotionally intelligent grief support”Journey of Hearts
An online healing place for anyone grieving a lossRecover-from-grief.com
General grief supportThe Grief Toolbox
General grief supportNavigating Grief
General grief supportWhat’s Your Grief
Informative grief discussions and supportGrief Stories
Personal storytelling in a virtual way.Transformative Grief
General grief supportGrief Digest Magazine
Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing resources for the bereaved.Grieving: A Beginners Guide by Jerusha Hull McCormack
Paraclete Press, 2006I’m Grieving as Fast as I Can by Linda Feinberg
New Horizon Press, 2013Resilient Grieving by Lucy Hone, PhD
The Experiment, LLC, 2017Please Be Patient, I’m Grieving by Gary Roe
2016 -
News Articles featuring Donation Stories
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Holiday Resources
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Services and Remembrance Information
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