18 AUGUST 31, 2017 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Why we Grieve When a Celebrity Dies
Many of us feel a unique kind
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of grief when a celebrity
dies. Although this grief is
not as overwhelming as when we lose
a friend or loved one, we still feel sad
when a famous person dies. Celebrities
are truly larger than life.
Their activities are widely reported
in the media; they visit our living
rooms through television and DVDs;
and they provide hours of entertainment
at the local cinema.
Over the past several years, we have
seen an unusual number of celebrity
deaths, from a princess to a famous
singer.
Certain celebrities such as Bob Hope,
Gregory Peck or Katherine Hepburn
can remind older folks of favorite
movies or television shows that they
enjoyed in their youth.
Veterans can recall with fondness
when Bob Hope visited them overseas
to give them laughter and hope during
the darkness of war.
It is hard to believe that their images
and voices are stilled forever because
we can still see them in their prime
when we watch old movies or television
shows.
In the sports world, Althea Gibson
was a role model for black women who
helped them to aspire to greatness
in athletics. Perhaps the Williams
sisters would not have become such a
phenomenon if Althea had not shown
the way.
Mr. Rogers welcomed children to
his neighborhood and taught them
many important life lessons that these
youngsters, now grown, remember
with fondness.
For more than 30 years, Mr. Rogers
taught young viewers how to feel more
secure about the world. His passing
helped children to understand the
concepts of death and dying.
Many celebrities in the television
world come into our homes on such a
regular basis that they become almost
a member of the family.
The death of actor John Ritter was
especially upsetting to many because
he was young and his death was totally
unexpected. He made us laugh and had
a lovable personality that endeared
him to many.
Not many people know the name
Gordon Jump. But they know the befuddled
“Maytag Man” who appeared
in dozens of television commercials
and became an eff ective corporate
spokesperson in a very successful
advertising campaign.
Millions of people around the world
watched Princess Diana’s funeral and
grieved for the beautiful and stylish
young woman who died so tragically.
Her funeral route was 77 miles long,
yet it attracted hundreds, if not thousands,
of people who hoped to catch a
glimpse of the departing casket and
perhaps photograph it so they could
tell their grandchildren, “We were
there.”
The passing of a celebrity reminds
us that death must come to all human
beings - no matter how rich or famous
they may be. In some cases, it is almost
a rehearsal to prepare us for the death
of someone who is truly close to us.
Courtesy of NYS Funeral
Directors Association