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 […]
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 […]
What does it take to be a funeral director? There is no other job like a funeral director. In celebration of National Funeral Director and Morticians Recognition Day on March 11th, we would like to honor what funeral directors do for us. You don’t want just anyone to care for your loved one when they […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Funeral Personalization to Celebrate the Life of a Loved One Customize a fitting tribute that reflects the life and passions of your loved one. The service can embody the life of the person being remembered. Personalization can help ease the pain of those suffering this loss. A funeral can be as simple or elaborate as you wish. […]
There is no defined path for grief to take after the death of a loved one. Each person heals from a loss on their own timeline, but even years later, the anniversary of a loved one’s death is painful. You may feel fear or dread as the day approaches, perhaps reliving the moment over and […]
6 proven benefits to document your pre-arrangements before heading south for the winter. One of the most valuable gifts funeral professionals have to offer families is the ability to facilitate important conversations about final wishes. Planning a funeral – whether it occurs in advance or at the time of need – is a deeply personal […]
Katheleen Helgeson MA, CFLE
will speak on the natural process of grief and how we can
better navigate through its long and painful journey,
especially during the holiday season.
Cremation and Funeral Service When a loved one passes away, family members face a lot of tough decisions in regards to their remains. A cremation is a popular option, as it can be less expensive than a traditional service. However, deciding to cremate your deceased loved one does not mean you have to forego a […]
First and foremost, your deceased family member never leaves our care! We are among very few funeral homes to operate our own crematory inside our clean and secure facility. It is important to understand that Wisconsin and Minnesota have strict regulations for cremation and crematories. In fact, many funeral homes offer ‘cremation services’ but rarely […]
After the glitz and glamour of the major winter holidays, many people forget about the mid-February day dedicated to love and romance. While many resources focus on remembering and honoring loved ones during those major holidays, Valentine’s Day can be just as emotional for families, but with a broken heart. As Valentine’s Day approaches, people […]
When a member of your family or a friend dies while serving their beloved country, most families opt to have a military burial. What can you, your family and friends expect when it comes to all of the military traditions associated with their funerals and how can you be respectful during a military service? Funeral […]
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
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
What does it take to be a funeral director? There is no other job like a funeral director. In celebration of National Funeral Director and Morticians Recognition Day on
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
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
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.
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.
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