How Preplanning Your Funeral Can Benefit You and Your Family
In this episode hosted by Pete Waggoner, Mike O’Connell and Amber Miller discuss the process of preplanning one’s funeral and its multiple benefits. They go in-depth about the different aspects of funeral preplanning, from the finances to how the actual meetings are done with family members. They also talk about how death and grief can […]
Coping with Secondary Loss & Caregiver Grief
In this episode, host Pete Waggoner goes in-depth with Kathleen Helgeson and Amber Miller about the topic of secondary loss and caregiver grief. They discuss the smaller subsequent losses that happen after the death of a loved one, and how a loss can impact one’s roles and routines. They also delve into how to cope […]
Funeral Do’s and Don’ts: Funeral Etiquette 101
In this ‘scintillating’ episode of the Good Grief podcast, Mike O’Connell and Amber Miller of O’Connell Funeral Homes join Pete Waggoner to discuss funeral etiquette. They get into the nitty-gritty of the do’s and don’ts of attending a funeral–from the proper attire, to the conversation topics that may be off-limits or offending to the grieving […]
How Cemeteries Make Resting in Peace Possible
In this episode of The Good Grief podcast, Mike O’Connell and Amber Miller get into cemeteries’ important role in providing a final resting place for people’s loved ones. They discuss the process of creating these final resting places, from deciding on the type of burial to personalizing the space to create a meaningful and lasting […]
Healing Through Tattoos: How Getting Body Art Can Help With Grief
Losing a friend or a loved one is one of the hardest things a person can go through. The process of grieving can be long and difficult, and it can be hard to find ways to cope. And while finding closure and moving on are necessary, none of us would ever want to forget the […]
O’Connell Family Funeral Homes merge St. Croix and Pierce County locations to better serve local communities
To better accommodate Western Wisconsin communities, specifically Pierce County, as well as to offer a complete range of grief services, the locally owned and operated O’Connell Family Funeral Homes are merging their St. Croix and Pierce County locations in Hudson, Baldwin, Ellsworth, Prescott, and River Falls. The Pierce County funeral homes, previously owned by Tom […]
The Final Say – Writing Your Own Obituary
Today, it’s not unusual for obituaries to go viral. The reasons are often the tone (poignant to acerbic), length (War & Peace-type tomes to extreme brevity), or content (move-you-to-tears recollections to the airing of family grievances). Which begs the question: who is responsible for penning the sensational piece? Was it the deceased themselves or a […]
The Holidays Can Be A Grief Trigger – Ways To Cope
Grief is oblivious. It doesn’t acknowledge the date, time, year, or place. It is not mindful of your feelings or circumstances. Unfortunately, around holidays, grief’s presence can surge strongly. Whether you are experiencing the holidays for the first time without a loved one, or it has been many years, you and your family may find […]
Your Digital Legacy: Passwords Need A Plan
It’s natural for people to instinctually shy away from afterlife planning. If they do give it a go, the focus tends to be wills, estate plans, and end-of-life directives. That’s a good start, but according to Legacy Concierge, a personal information storage company, the average person under the age of 70 has more than 160 […]
How to help a grieving friend, as well as what is NOT helpful
Learn things you can apply immediately. In today’s episode, Kathy Helgeson, a certified funeral celebrant at O’Connell Family Funeral Homes, joins us to discuss how to help a grieving friend. What’s helpful. What’s not. How shifting your view could help you, as well as someone grieving the loss of a loved one. Links mentioned in […]
How Positive Affirmations Can Help The Grieving Process
Losing a loved one is one of the most significant and stressful life events that all humans must experience. Navigating grief will be different for each person but it can be really helpful to validate the sadness before trying to move through it. Affirmations are a helpful tool for dealing with intense feelings of grief […]
Don’t make these funeral pre-planning mistakes
With O’Connell Family Funeral Homes, pre-planning your funeral is simple, easy, and personal. The process, which may seem slightly morbid, can actually be a great way to grow together as a family and put together a beautiful celebration. However, as you approach the pre-planning process, there are a few things you may want to avoid. […]
