What to Do When a Loved One Dies: A practical and compassionate guide to dealing with death on life's terms

by Eva Shaw

Icon Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, the pioneer in death and dying, praised it. She said, “An excellent book. It’s truly a ‘help’ book, full of information on a very personal level.” The 408-paged, indexed book offers a practical and spiritual guide through the issues surrounding death and grief by a leader in the field of grief management. Topics include coping and grieving, understanding funerals and services, surviving violence and dealing with pet loss. There are examples of condolence letters and help navigating paperwork and final wishes. If you have recently experienced death, you know it’s impossible to prepare. Yet with the information within these pages, you should be able to handle the situation. In a difficult time, you’ll find help right here. Reading and applying the material will help you get through the experience of death. Perhaps, it can make the road a little smoother. With the information you can get a “handle” on the pain. Any death hurts, including that of a cherished family pet, as discussed in chapter 10. There’s no quick fix for grief, yet there are ways to help you heal even in the worst of times. Having this book as a resource is like being with a sensitive and trusted friend. You are not alone. With the book in hand you’ll begin to understand what’s going on “inside,” as well as how to cope with and work with the external changes brought on by the death of someone you loved. Everyone needs information on how to handle the details of a death. This is a “why-to” book, an encyclopedia filled with sensible and thorough information from experts in the field of death, grief and recovery. Like having a personal counselor at a time of need, the book covers topics as diverse • Taking immediate action after a death • Understanding rituals, funerals and services • Navigating funeral costs, paperwork and final wishes • Coping with emotional upheavals • Talking with children about death • Surviving the violent death of someone you love • Making decisions to donate organs • Grieving and locating support • Supporting a love one who is terminal • Dealing with pet loss • Writing condolences letters Dr. Shaw is a leading authority on grief and recovery and she shares advice in clear, understandable and helpful ways. There’s compassion, but no fluff. There’s spiritual reflections, along with the how-to cope one longs to find in a book on death. What to Do When a Loved One Dies is your complete guide through the issues surrounding death beginning with what to do in the first twenty-four hours. There are listings of hundreds of national support groups, resources that are invaluable, and real places to get real help. "What to Do When a Loved One Dies" should be on every family’s bookshelf. It will be there to refer to and share with others when the emotional and practical rollercoaster happens after there has been a death. Let this book be your guide. It tells you "What to Do When a Loved One Dies."

Genres: Death

408 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

EVA SHAW is one of the country’s premier ghostwriters and is the author of more than award-winning 100 books. Novels with her byline include these faith-based Amazon best sellers: Doubts of the Heart and Games of the Heart. Nonfiction best sellers include: Ghostwriting: The Complete Guide, Writeriffic 2: Creativity Training for Writers, Write Your Book in 20 Minutes, Garden Therapy: Nature’s Health Plan, and What to Do When A Loved One Dies. Visit Amazon, Good Reads and other sellers for reviews.

Eva teaches five university-level writing courses available online at 4000 colleges and universities worldwide. A breast cancer survivor, she's an active volunteer with causes affecting women and children and with her church. She loves to travel, read, shop, garden, play the banjolele and paint, focusing on folk art and California landscapes. When not at her desk, she’s probably enjoying the beach village of Carlsbad, California with Coco Rose, a rambunctious 2-year-old Welsh terrier.

Reviews

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gentle overview of what to expect of the before, the actual death, and the after. Filled with helpful steps of what to do when you feel lost from the death of a loved one and are unable to figure out what to do and what not to do, whether or not what you're feeling is normal or you need to seek help, and where to look for the help you need. Straightforward and filled with lists of guides, books, help lines, and therapy groups, this is worth to take a moment to look through and get a helpful idea on what to do if you feel alone and lost.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shortly after my father died, I picked up a copy of this book at my local library. It was just right. I found a copy for my mother, who agreed that it was the most helpful resource during the inital shock of my dad's death.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Needing to check out eight months out how I am doing with the whole grief stuff this was a practical guild to all the stuff going on and that needs to happen. Lesson all these books state: Grief comes and goes at its own pace and don't rush yourself etc.

[Covenant Presbyterian Springfield Ohio]

Call Number: 152.4 SHA

A gift from Littleton and Rue Funeral Home.

Available.