Did you know there are at least a dozen religious and national holidays observed in December? Therefore, even if someone doesn’t celebrate a mainstream holiday like Christmas or Hanukkah, it’s likely they’re still celebrating something meaningful to them.
Each holiday comes with its own traditions, rituals and memories, loading this season with emotions for someone grieving the death of a loved one as well. Whether it’s their first year with an empty seat at the table or decades later, coping with grief during the holidays can be difficult.
At Homesteaders, we’ve heard time and again from funeral professionals how valuable providing grief resources can be for the families they serve, but dedicating time to finding or creating them may be a challenge. We know you’re busy, and we’re here to help.
Holiday Grief Tips
Before sharing our best resources, let’s explore some tips for talking about grief during the holidays and how best to support someone grieving this holiday season.
- Joy and grief are not mutually exclusive. There is space for conflicting emotions at any time but especially the holidays. Experiencing joy is not dishonoring the person someone is grieving.
- It’s okay to leave old traditions or put them on pause if they don’t feel right. People often have things they always did with the person who died — decorating, going to look at holiday lights, attending services or parties. If those things don’t feel right anymore, it’s okay to forego them, whether that’s temporarily or indefinitely. Maybe suggest starting a new tradition instead. There’s no right or wrong way to grieve.
- If it’s helpful, join those who are grieving in reflecting on holiday memories with their loved one through storytelling or looking at photos. This reflection may inspire them to make a donation to or volunteer for a meaningful organization in memory of their loved one.
If you’re looking for strategies for navigating your own grief this holiday season, check out this blog from For Grief, a trusted partner of Homesteaders.
Our Best Resources
Grief Chats
Supporting grieving families goes beyond the funeral service — it’s providing ongoing care and guidance throughout their grief journey. Grief Chats, offered by our partner For Grief, feature candid conversations with grief experts about the complexities of grief and loss. These in-depth videos are directly informed by feedback from a community of grief experts and designed to answer questions and address topics grieving families want to know more about.
We believe these conversations are a valuable resource for you and the families you serve. Each video covers different aspects of grief, offering practical advice and compassionate guidance. In addition to expert insights, the speakers share lessons they learned from their own experiences, reminding others who are grieving that they are not alone.
For Grief Bookshop
Sometimes the most comforting experience during grief comes from reading about experiences with loss and learning that we’re not alone in our emotions. The For Grief Bookshop was founded with the belief that even during the darkest times, there is always hope in a brighter tomorrow. Here, you can explore books categorized by types of loss, audience (i.e. children, teens, adults) and a variety of grief themes. It’s a one-stop shop for the best and most trusted resources, support and information available to help grieving families throughout their grief journey.
Elevia Text-Based Aftercare
As we know, supporting grieving families doesn’t end after the funeral service, but regularly checking in with everyone you serve can be an overwhelming task. That’s where Elevia, a Homesteaders partner, saw a gap in the funeral profession and set out on a mission to help businesses meaningfully support families in the days, weeks and months following their loss.
By partnering with Elevia, you can connect with your client families through text-based aftercare solutions that deliver compassionate, consistent support. Knowing the absence of a cherished family member can feel even more profound this time of year, strategically timed holiday messages are built into their outreach calendar. With Elevia, you can automatically send thoughtful, personalized texts offering comfort and care — with the confidence in knowing all messages are sent and responded to by real people on their Care Team, not AI chatbots.
Schedule a demo today and discover how simple, thoughtful messaging can make all the difference for the families you serve. Want a sneak peek? Read just a few of their success stories.
Holiday Reflection Pages
We have designed printable holiday reflection pages for grieving loved ones featuring prompts that can be helpful as they determine how they’ll navigate the weeks ahead. These pages encourage readers to reflect on holiday memories and traditions, identify who and what can provide support during this season and consider ways to honor their loved one in their holiday plans. We have created many options for the person who struggles to find the right words and for the avid writer. Everyone grieves differently, and these journal questions will help your client families explore their personal grief journey.
While many enjoy time off with their loved ones this time of year, we recognize that luxury is often not afforded to funeral professionals. We see you, and we appreciate you. The work you do is invaluable to the families and communities you serve, especially at such a tender time. Please take time where you can to rest and recharge so you can continue bringing your best self to this important profession.
