Grief support Letters: For Death Anniversary and Holidays

The One Year Death Anniversary is a sentinel time during grief.  Most people benefit from added support in the weeks before and after that day.  Included in the letter are ideas for how to navigate that time frame and commemorate your loved one in a special way.

All holidays are especially tough during grief. What should you do? And not do?  The traditional cerebration, or something different? How to cope during the holidays season, including Christmas and New Years, is a challenge. Here is the grief support letter for the First Christmas and Second Christmas without your loved one. Attachments include: 

Valentines Day, a holiday focused on love, can be a difficult day during grief. The Valentine's Day Letter offers condolences and ideas on how to remember your loved one this day.  

Easter, with it's central focus of Resurrection, can be both comforting and tough during a grieving time.  Here is letter for the First Easter , followed by a Grief Reflection/Journal about Easter. Here is a letter for the Second Easter without your loved one and a Lent/Easter Reflection: Amid the desert of Lent, a Resurrection of Hope.  

Mothers Day and Fathers Day are both days when we celebrate our moms and dads. They can be tough days after the death of a parent or after the death of a child of any age.

Thanksgiving is a traditional time for families to gather and give thanks.  The absence of your loved one can leave a big empty space at the table and in your life.  Read grief support letters for the First Thanksgiving and Second Thanksgiving during grief, as well as a prayer for Thanksgiving.  

Birthdays and special days are difficult times during grieving. We've become used to our own rituals for each of these celebrations in years past. This year, things are different, and we don't feel much like celebrating.  Still, having some sort of commemoration may help.  This Birthday and Special Day Letter has some ideas on how to do that. 

Also, Coping with Grief during Holidays, Special Days, and Birthdays has advice from other grievers as to how they've managed these times.