Rethinking the Holidays After Loss

Each year at the start of the holiday season, feelings of grief among those who have lost loved ones intensifies and for many, can continue throughout the entire two-month holiday season. Every invitation and holiday card received, and each trip to a card store or mall can trigger feelings of isolation, pain and sadness.

Experts say that when experiencing intensified feelings at holiday time, grief workshops can provide bereaved individuals an opportunity to join together and learn how to enjoy the holidays again, following a loss.

“Grief workshops function on two levels. First, they connect individuals who have a shared experience of loss and second, they provide valuable tools and therapeutic programs for the bereaved to heal and learn how to live their lives,” said Adam Rabinovitch, Executive Director of COPE.

Bereavement Specialist, Lisa Strahs-Lorenc, who recently lead a holiday focused grief workshop for Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum and its partnership with COPE said, “I have always known how precious life is and how quickly it can change. At holiday time, celebrating those we have lost is a natural part of the grieving process, but it’s also a time to create new holiday traditions to help us move forward and this is where creative grieving techniques comes in.”

Individuals who joined Lisa for her workshop learned how to rethink the holidays after loss by creating new ways to celebrate while keeping their holiday memories with lost loved ones alive. “My goal is to help people change their outlook about the holidays by tapping into their memories to create a new holiday with a new and special meaning,” continued Strahs-Lorenc.

One impactful and therapeutic exercise Lisa teaches works by tapping into memories to help rethink the holidays after loss.

“We can all choose how we move forward in our lives. Hands-on, therapeutic exercises to help mourners create new memories from their old ones is a very effective and impactful way to help individuals heal,” continued Strahs-Lorenc. “It’s all about creating new traditions. The exercise works by thinking about all of your favorite childhood memories, as well as the memories you made as an adult, with your lost loved one. We then combine these memories and these activities into a new holiday, where all of the special moments from the past are incorporated into upcoming celebrations.”

“Grief is a part of life, but unlike other milestones, dealing with the death of loved one is not learned or taught, but something mourners for years were left to cope with on their own,” said Lillian Julien, Founder and President Emerita of COPE. “Thankfully today, individuals who have experienced loss can heal and learn to cope and live, through the help of workshops led by experienced professionals.”

“Pinelawn is fortunate to be partnering with COPE to help generate awareness for grief healing services and share tools to help grieving individuals along their grief journey. We are proud to make these essential grief workshops available for free to the bereaved,” said Justin Locke, President of Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum.

Now in its second year, Pinelawn’s online Grief Workshop Series was created during the Covid Pandemic to support those mourning the loss of loved ones, when many remained isolated in their homes. To date, Pinelawn has hosted 22 online grief healing workshops which have assisted over 1,275 individuals coping with grief. Topics covered have included Self Healing & Resilience Building, Journaling for Life After Loss, Allowing Nature to Hold Us, Healing Through Music, and more.

To learn about Pinelawn’s upcoming events, including its ongoing Grief Workshop Series, visit www.pinelawn.com/events.

About Cope

Founded in 1999, COPE is a nonprofit grief and healing organization helping parents and families living with the loss of a child. Started by bereaved parents, COPE now offers professionally led support groups, a grief support phone line, and monthly healing workshops including yoga, meditation, Reiki, art, movement, music, writing and journaling. COPE has grown to support children and teens who have lost a loved one, particularly through COPE’s Camp Erin® NYC, a free summer weekend experience to support kids and parents who are grieving. Learn more at www.copefoundation.org

About Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum

Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum, located in Farmingdale, New York, is a non-sectarian cemetery prided on creating and maintaining a beautiful and serene environment where families can find tranquility and comfort. Its open and expansive landscape features hundreds of acres of manicured grounds, unique architecture, flowing bronze fountains, and flower-lined walks. Its beautiful memorial gardens offer all who visit scenic beauty where they can reflect upon their loved ones in peace. For more information on Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum, or to schedule a tour of the property, visit www.pinelawn.com or call 631-249-6100.