Grief Support

Grief Support

We believe that grief is not a single event. After the funeral is over, and others have returned to their day-to-day lives, the feeling of loss lingers. We want to offer you our continued support. Our aftercare includes follow-up grief material sent to you several times up to the one-year anniversary of your loved one’s death. All mailings are provided by Jerry Kressin, who is our dedicated Grief Educator. For more information about Jerry, please click here.
Jerry can offer other resources as well to help you connect with grief support groups or one-on-one education. While no one can truly know what you are going through, it can help to share your feelings with others that have experienced loss as well. Jerry will even visit with your family at your request.

Our Grief Educator also offers to facilitate interactive discussions (in a circle format) on the topics of spirituality/religion, grief/loss, terminal/chronic illness, near-death experiences, and other topics related to social, civic, or religious groups. These circles are best conducted with 4 to 10 participants. If you are interested in organizing one of these discussion groups, please send an email to Jerry at office@cremationsociety-wi.com.
If you have specific requests for other grief information or resources, but don’t know where to look, please contact us and we will do our best to assist you. All of our grief support services are offered free of charge to the families we serve.

While most people are appreciative of our mailings following a loved one’s death, some people prefer not to be contacted afterward. We understand and want to respect your privacy. If this is the case, please contact our office and request to be removed from any future contact.

Recommended Local Resources:

1010 Oakridge Drive
Eau Claire, WI 54701
Call 715-717-6028 for dates and times of Support Groups

Making a Move: How to Make a Fresh Start After Losing a Loved One 

Losing a loved one can have a profound effect on who we are and how we handle things, sometimes for the rest of our lives. It’s important to take care of yourself after such a loss and to learn how to cope with stress, anxiety, and feelings of depression in the days and weeks afterward as well. For some, this means counseling, therapy, or finding a hobby that helps relieve those negative feelings. For others, making a move to a new home makes the most sense.

 While it’s not an action to be taken lightly due to the expense and potential big life changes it can bring, moving can be very helpful for those who need to put some space between them and their loss. Whether you want to buy a new home or take the plunge and move to a new city or state altogether, there are several considerations to make.

 Keep reading for some great tips on how to make a fresh start after losing a loved one.

Find Out How Much Your Home Is Worth

Before you begin the process of looking for a new home, it’s imperative to know how much your current one is worth (according to Zillow, the median home value in Altoona is around $203,000). This will help you figure out not only what to expect when looking for a new place, but it will also give you an idea of how much equity you have and what you can expect to start with when it comes to funds for a down payment.

Ask for Support

It’s important to have moral support while you’re going through this process, whether you’re moving out of state or just to the next neighborhood. This means asking friends and family for help in packing and on moving day, but it also means having someone to assist you in going through items that hold sentimental value. It may be difficult to sort through memories while you’re packing or deciding which items to donate or sell, but having a loved one with you during the process will be hugely beneficial. Remember that you don’t have to get rid of anything that holds special memories, but if it’s too painful to keep in its current state, consider altering it a bit. For instance, photo albums or framed photos can be changed into digital pictures with a scanner, allowing you to look through them only when you’re ready.


 Getting support goes beyond asking loved ones for help. You can hire a cleaning service to do a deep clean of your home before moving out (in closeby Eau Claire, you can expect to pay $119 on average for these services). You should also hire professional movers so your family and friends don’t have to shoulder the load. The cost of hiring moving help in Altoona averages $396.

Be Patient

It can be very difficult to be patient with yourself after suffering a loss; your grief or anxiety may peak and decline over and over, leaving you feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. You might be ready for an immediate change once you move, but the move itself won’t guarantee that you’ll feel a weight lifted off your shoulders. It will likely take some time, so try to be patient during this period and do what you can to feel better.

Practice Self-Care

Now is the time to practice self-care as often as possible; this means reducing stress, practicing a hobby that makes you feel good, and learning to relax. You might create a new bedtime routine that allows you to wind down for better sleep, or take up painting or writing as a way to express your feelings. Self-care is imperative when you’re going through such a major loss, so find a way to practice it every day.


Making a move after losing a loved one is a major decision, so think hard about the pros and cons before going through with anything. Talk to your friends and loved ones first, as well, so they can be supportive during this time.


Article submitted by Lucille Rosetti, Thebereaved.org

Share by: