Healing and the Holidays

The holidays are often filled with treasured memories of our loved ones. The traditions shared and the times of being all together are cherished deep within the heart and remembered across the passage of time. In the midst of the joy surrounding the holidays, as well as our memories, this time of year can also bring up feelings of loss and sadness for those mourning a loved one.

Accepting Our Feelings

The holidays are an emotional time, and each person experiences the stress and mix of feelings differently. Dealing with loss is especially challenging around the holidays, and it is normal to feel overwhelmed. Taking time to acknowledge your feelings, as well as being open with those around you, gives you space during a hectic time for healing. Being kind to yourself and those around you, as you each mourn and remember in your own way, is important year-round, but even more so around the holiday season.

Honoring Old Traditions and Making New Ones

For some, carrying on old traditions provides a sense of comfort and continuity, while for others, acknowledging that things won’t be the same opens up space for new traditions. There is no right answer other than the one that feels right for you and your family. Sometimes the best way to honor a departed loved one isn’t to carry on exactly as before, but to find meaning in a new tradition. Lighting a candle in his or her memory, visiting their resting place, or giving back to an organization they cared about are just a few ideas.

Reaching out for Support   

At White Haven, we hope the serenity and healing atmosphere of our grounds will help you this holiday season by offering a connection, as well as a peaceful place, for reflection and remembrance. We offer printed resources, as well as the opportunity to discuss more ideas for honoring your loved one. For more information, please call (585)-586-5250.  

White Haven Memorial Park is a unique green sanctuary in Rochester, New York that honors our departed loved ones. Memory and beauty flow hand-in-hand with nature in this one-of-a-kind setting. The healing power of nature’s serenity, we believe, comforts those who choose White Haven. With burial options for anyone, we are a certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. For more information, please visit our site, or contact us here.  

Healing and The Holidays at White Haven Memorial Park

Many of our best memories in life are spending time with family and friends during the holidays.  While we look forward to another holiday season full of joy and celebration, we also miss loved ones we have lost and want to take time to remember them.

We understand that this time of year can be especially hard if you have experienced a loss, and we want to support you in your healing and the honoring of your friend or family member.    Our staff at White Haven Memorial Park is here to offer our comfort and invite you to share your memories with us.  Connecting with others through stories about your loved one is an instrumental component to the healing process.

White Haven Memorial Park also provides you with free printed resources to address your specific needs while grieving.  Every individual’s grieving process is different, so it is vital to equip yourself with the resources most suited to your situation.  We welcome you to come by and select some reading material that will be most beneficial to your healing.  

The holiday season is a good time to establish new traditions to honor your loved one.  We suggest visiting the cemetery and burial site to spend some time in reflection and remembrance.  It is helpful to demonstrate that your loved one has not been forgotten, and many people find the cemetery offers a quiet sense of peace while mourning that is difficult to obtain elsewhere.  

Honoring the life of the deceased through loving thoughts and actions helps you along your journey after loss because it affirms the relationship you cherished.  Some special ways you can honor your loved one during the holidays at White Haven Memorial Park include; placing a wreath on the grave, dedicating holiday flower arrangements in the mausoleum, or ordering a holiday arrangement for the vase on the niche or crypt.  Please feel free to contact us for assistance or other suggestions at (585)-586-5250.  

We also encourage you to find healing in your celebration of the unique life of your loved one and the incredible memories you made together.  You are invited to our Holiday Remembrance Service on Saturday, December 3rd at 4:00 p.m. in the All Seasons Chapel, featuring music, poetry and names and photos of the loved ones that have been given to us in advance.

For further information on any of these healing opportunities, please visit our website at whitehavenmemorialpark.com or call us at (585)-586-5250.