Funerals are not only a remembrance of the person who died, but they are for the living. Planning and having a funeral unites a family in grief and is important for the grieving process. Having a funeral gives family and friends the opportunity to support one another and focus their thoughts and feelings on something meaningful, which in turn helps with your mental health during this difficult time in your life. Alan Wolfelt, a respected author and educator on grief, says that these thoughts and feelings are what we mean by the term grief. When we express our grief by crying, sharing memories, talking to others and taking part in a funeral, we are mourning, and mourning helps us begin to heal.
