On the day of the Iowa Caucus, Rick Santorum is getting some unexpected attention thanks to Alan Colmes. The day before, Colmes said that people would soon learn about the crazy things Santorum has done “like taking his two-hour-old baby when it died right after childbirth home and played with it so that his other children would know that the… Read More
A Young Widow’s Story of Grief and Hope
Almost six years ago, Jill’s husband died. She was 44 at the time. I do not know what it is like to be a widow. But through Jill’s stories, I am given a glimpse into that world. And generously, she is sharing her stories about love and grief with others. When discussing Closure on a radio program, I encouraged listeners… Read More
Carrying the Burden of Grief
This past weekend a young woman died at the university where I teach. My mind has been on my students and others who mourn this tragic and senseless loss. I have also been thinking of several other students who have died in the past few years. Watching my students process these losses and struggle to find their way through the… Read More
Questions Remain after Amy Winehouse’s Death
Amy Winehouse, a talented and troubled musician, was found dead in her apartment on July 23. The initial autopsy, completed on July 25, was inconclusive as to the cause of death. Some people said there was no closure because the autopsy did not provide answers. Others hope the Winehouse’s family will get “some kind of closure” when the toxicology and… Read More
Going Out in Style: Death, Fashion, and Funerals
Funeral directors would have us believe that viewing a loved one’s body after death is necessary for closure. In Closure, I explain why funeral directors want us to believe this idea for marketing reasons. Funeral home directors encourage a family to have a public viewing of the formally presented and embalmed body complete with cosmetics. In most cases, embalming is… Read More
