My Loss

Mourning the Father I Never Knew

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My dad is dead. But when a friend loses a parent, I can’t honestly say that I understand what he’s going through. Here's why.

How the World Says Goodbye

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From a festive graveside picnic in Mexico to an elaborate gift-giving ceremony in India, check Modern Loss' interactive map featuring memorial rituals from around the world.

Fortune Teller

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My dead mother communicates with me through fortune cookies. Really, she does.

Must-See TV

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In the moments after my mother died, I recorded an episode of “Friends” — a decision that still confounds me a decade on.

Visiting Dad on Google Street View

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Before Dad died, Google cameras captured him — healthy and happy — tending his yard. For years after his death, I visited him frequently in cyberspace.

Feet, Pain, Love

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After my boyfriend succumbed to cystic fibrosis, I found relief in a grueling 500-mile pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago.

On New Year’s, Clawing My Way Back

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The year my partner drowned, I bought a supermarket lobster — and set it free.

Grief Is Forever (and That’s OK)

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At a fancy spa, I found myself missing my son and learning to embrace my eternal sadness.

’Twas the Fight Before Christmas

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When it came to decorating the tree, my late husband and I didn’t exactly see eye-to eye.

Guilt: My Constant Companion

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After my father died of ALS, my grief has come in waves; my guilt, however, never seems to subside.

Putting the Satan Back in Christmas

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The holiday season may bring up all kinds of memories when you’re grieving. But what if your loved one was more Scrooge than Santa?

The Yoga Dialogues

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After a close friend's sudden death, even a yoga teacher has trouble quieting her mind.

Complicated Grief: How It’s Different

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When the intense pain lingers, it may be 'complicated grief.' Here's how to recognize it, and where to find help.

Call of the Riled

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Devastating news has twice come in the form of a call. Now whenever the phone rings, I fear the worst.

Deleting My Mother

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When Gmail kept prompting me to email my dead mother, drastic action was necessary.

Grieving and Purging

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A will usually dictates the fate of homes, cars and jewelry. But what should you do with your loved one's lip balm, bicycle or hoodies?

On Thanksgiving, Longing to Go Home Again

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For years, I swore off Thanksgiving. Then my mom died, and I found myself longing to go home again.

Mourning Tina, the Nanny Who Raised Me

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When strangers ask me if my necklace is a family heirloom, the answer is not so easy as yes or no.

The Reverse Midas Touch

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After losing my father, two aunts and stepfather in quick succession, I became convinced I was cursed.

5 Things That Help Me Cope

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Facing a lifetime of missing my child, here's what gets me through — and lifts me up.

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