For centuries, societies have established rituals to assist in the healing process and to memorialize those closest to us. As hard as the experience of these rituals may be, they offer time and relationships that help us mourn and grieve in constructive ways.

Funerals offer time and place for people to gather and support one another; to reach out in love and concern. They allow each participant to grieve in their own way and at their own level, but help us to see there are others suffering too, along with us.

Sometimes people believe the best way is to, "get this all over with as quickly as possible." But there is real wisdom in observing the grief process; in ourselves and in others.

Death and the sorrow that follows, touches a network of people. However, the traditions and rituals we observe help us to understand that no one sorrows alone.