The death of someone we love breaks our hearts, and grief sets in. Grief’s synonyms are sorrow, misery, sadness, pain, distress, agony, torment, heartache, desolation, dejection, and angst…. Ok, I think you get it! Grief is overwhelming and knows no boundaries. But besides emotional feelings, it causes a myriad of physical issues too. When we […]
Loss is a common everyday fact of life. Even more so, are the emotions and reactions that follow them. But with the holidays approaching, it seems our grief gets amplified and worse. TV commercials make it appear everyone is happy and cheery during the Holidays. Festive dinners, cocktail parties, shopping sprees, and holiday decorations focus […]
An individual’s story – memories made, principles and lessons learned – is a gift that should be shared with family and friends. O’Connell Family Funeral Homes, in conjunction with the Funeral and Memorial Information Council (FAMIC) has launched Have the Talk of a Lifetime, an awareness and education initiative to help families have important conversations […]
Five stages of grief?? I think not! The Kubler Ross stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance), also known as the 5 stages of grief, were first outlined in 1969, when Elizabeth Kubler-Ross’s book “On Death and Dying” was published. Her work was a reflection of the grief process of patients who had been diagnosed with terminal illness. Her work would become the […]
Scattering Ashes: What You Need to Know Scattering ashes, also called cremated remains, is a popular choice when a person or family chooses cremation. If you’re seeking answers on what you can do with the ashes, look no further than the O’Connell Family Funeral Home. Below you can find guidelines about what you can do with the […]
Should kids be seen and not heard? Therese Rando, a well-known grief and loss expert, explains that rituals allow structure for important events that happen throughout our lives, including death. A funeral offers a controlled time where individuals can emotionally and physically ventilate their feelings. Funeral rituals generate social support and offer opportunities to find […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]