Grief Through the Holidays

Having witnessed much of the great sorrow and isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the team at Viss Family Funeral Home would like to offer their support to the families of Copperas Cove and Killeen who may be dealing with grief of any kind this holiday season.

While the staff at Viss are accustomed to caring for families after a loss, they have noticed a magnified sense of grief in the families they have served as a result of the increased stress and uncertainly brought about by the pandemic.

In addition to caring for families at the funeral home by providing safe, regulated funeral services, Viss would like to care for those they don’t directly serve by offering resources and other guidance for how to combat feelings of grief. Especially as we enter the second holiday season affected by the pandemic, Ronnie Viss and his staff want to ensure that everyone receives the help they need to deal with the emotional effects of loss or grief of any kind.

A few tips the Viss Family team recommend are:

1.Include the Memory of Your Loved One in Your Plans

It can be tempting to try and ignore the hole left by an absent loved one. This is not a healthy approach. Instead, make a plan to include their memory in your holiday plans, whether that means serving their favorite dish at the family dinner, watching a favorite holiday movie, or continuing a tradition they upheld. The goal is to control your feelings of loss and turn them into something meaningful rather than let them control you.

2.Allow Others In

It may seem wrong to attend events or join festive gatherings without your loved one. Making conversation with others may require more energy than ever before. However, cutting yourself off from others completely may be damaging to your healing, allowing the grief to take over. You don’t have to accept every invitation, but make an intentional effort to spend some time with others.

3.Talk About Them

Sharing memories of those who have passed is a healthy way to keep them in our hearts. Saying their name and looking at their pictures may bring a hint of sadness, but it will also acknowledge the impact they made on our lives and remind us what is important, especially as we gather together with family and loved ones to celebrate the holidays.

More valuable information on dealing with grief and other end-of-life topics can be found on Viss Family Funeral Home’s blog page. Those interested in more interactive grief support resources should contact the funeral home for help.

“Our number one job is to support others in difficult times,” says Ronnie Viss, owner of Viss Family Funeral Homes. “We look at everyone in Copperas Cove and Killeen as our family, and it’s our job to provide comfort to them however we can.”  

Viss Family Funeral Home is honored to serve the families of Copperas Cove and Killeen, Texas with dignity and compassion. They provide quality funeral, burial, cremation and memorial services as well as special services for military veterans. The funeral home also offers the option to arrange final wishes, including services and disposition, and pay for the plans in advance. Learn more by visiting vissfamilyfuneralhome.com.