Mourning Rituals

Things I’ve Been Meaning to Tell You About Your Funeral

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From a TV anchor mourner to a dive bar 'post-party,' you really would've loved it.

How Day of the Dead Gave Me Life

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Embracing the Mexican tradition helped me deal with my anger after my mom's death.

The Lights and Lessons of Toro Nagashi, the Japanese Candle Boat Ceremony

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I missed a lifelong friend’s funeral. But I honored him all the same.

Operation Orchid

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Grandpa was totally dead. In his honor, I decided to bring my mostly dead orchids back to life.

Bring Soup, Not Salad

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And other rules for feeding mourners from a pair of foodies who’ve been there.

Picturing the Dead

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Victorians were known for elaborate memorial photography. A century on, the genre takes on new life.

Why I Like Funerals More Than Weddings

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"Four Weddings and a Funeral"? I'd rather watch "Four Funerals and a Wedding."

Executive Producing Your Own Goodbye

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My father-in-law was a planner his entire life. The end was no exception.

Riding and Hiding in My Griefmobile

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No matter how intense my feelings, my car always comes to the rescue, with available music, clean tissues, and much-needed privacy.

A Physical Place to Mourn a Virtual Friendship

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My friend and I encountered each other over social media and business travel. So it was complicated when he died, but my daily routine didn't change.

Chicken Chow Found

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I've spent years attempting to rebuild my dad's favorite recipe. And with a simple wok, I've connected our family with him anew.

Choosing Legoland

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My mother lay dying mere weeks after my husband's death. But this time, I had some control over how my family experienced the loss.

This Side of Paradise

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Hawaiian cemetery picnics have long been a family tradition, but one I have resisted since my father died.

Mourning Option A

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Thirty days after her husband's sudden death, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg shares a transparent portrait of grief -- and her determination to make the best of what's next.

Holding on to Culture and Tradition During Mourning

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From talking to the deceased to 'tomb sweeping,' here's how mourners have found meaning in their religious and cultural rituals.

How I’m Making Mother’s Day My Bitch

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I've spent years wallowing on this Hallmark holiday, missing my dead mom. This time, though, I'm making it my own.

Mother’s Day, Millennial Style

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How Tootsie Rolls and apple cider helped bring my haphazard support system together on the first Mother's Day after my mom's death.

Paying Tribute to My Peeps

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My 13-pound Bichon Frisé was my best friend, my loyal companion and my professional buoy. So why isn't there a blueprint for mourning a pet who loved me as much as any human did?

The Hungry Mourner

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From funeral biscuits to cemetery picnics to parsley crowns, here's how the world marks death with food.

Rites of Passage

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Rituals of all kinds — from daily prayers to playing pop songs — can help mitigate grief after loss, a new study out of Harvard shows.

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