COPING WITH DEATH
Is closure ever possible?
Finding closure after the loss of a loved one can be quite diffi cult. Some
wonder if closure can ever be truly achieved.
We hear people talking about
“closure” as if there is a door
that can be shut after experiencing
a tragedy in our lives, losing
a loved one or being witness to
a horrific event such as the terrorist
attack on the World Trade Center.
Friends might ask, “Haven’t you
reached closure yet?”
Grief cannot be forced or pushed
or closed off from our minds.
There is no magic formula for
working through grief.
The fact of the matter is that grief
must be expressed and dealt with.
We all experience and react to loss
in different ways depending on the
relationship of the deceased to us,
our past experiences with loss, and
sometimes even our health and emotional
state.
Grieving for a lost loved one can
take years, sometimes a lifetime.
According to Curtis Rostad, a Certified
Funeral Service Practitioner
who has been a licensed funeral director
since 1973, there is no such
thing as closure.
He maintains that those who refuse
to begin the journey through
grief simply delay their own recovery
. Rostad goes on to explain why he
thinks the concept of closure is mentioned
so often in today’s culture. “It
should come as little surprise that
a generation of people brought up
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with minute rice, instant coffee and
microwave ovens would search for
quick relief from something we call
grief,” he says.
“We hear it from those who go to
the scene of a disaster where their
family member has died. We hear it
from those who witness the execution
of the person convicted of killing
their loved one. We hear it expressed
by those who have someone
missing in war.”
In Rostad’s long experience in
helping families deal with grief, he
has found that seeking closure only
produces feelings of frustration that
join the emotions of sorrow.
There is no closure, but there is a
point where people have a great deal
of acceptance, even peace of mind,
and are able to move on to a different
frame of mind.
It’s a frame of mind that leaves
them supported by the memories,
but empowered to continue with
their lives knowing they did all they
could do with respect to the person
they lost.
Why would anyone seek closure?
Why would anyone want to close the
door on thoughts about a departed
loved one?
Grief will soften in the years after
a loss, but the door to memories
should always be open.
Courtesy NYS Funeral Directors
Association
When it matters most, the person who answers your call
is just as important as the phone number you dial.
Frank E. Campbell The Funeral Chapel, answering the most
difficult call since 1898. Our experienced and Licensed
Funeral Directors are always available when you need them most.
The possibilities for a final tribute are endless. Whether
an intimate gathering or a large-scale celebration of life,
planning in advance allows you to design every detail of a
remarkable service and provide your loved ones with true
peace of mind.
Our Premier Planning Professionals will ensure that your
final tribute is flawlessly carried out, just as you envisioned.
Contact us today to begin planning your celebration of life.
FRANK E. CAMPBELL
the funeral chapel
1076 Madison Avenue | New York, NY 10028
212-288-3500 | FrankECampbell.com
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20 February 24, 2022 Schneps Media
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