Welcome to Compassionate Connections with Mundell Funeral Home and Hospice Orillia. We have partnered to bring you a virtual resource bank where you can access everything from cooking tips to self-care to memorial events. If there is something you are looking for and you do not see it here, fill out the feedback form to let us know. You never know, the resource you suggest could be exactly what is needed to help someone in our community.
Self-Care Tips
Grieving the loss of a loved one is an intensely personal journey, and self-care is an essential part of navigating this difficult time. Here are a few self-care tips to support yourself through the grieving process:
1. Acknowledge Your Feelings – Allow yourself to feel the full range of emotions without judgment. Grief can involve sadness, anger, confusion, or even relief. It’s okay to feel what you feel.
2. Set Aside Time for Rest – Grieving can be physically and emotionally exhausting. Prioritize rest and ensure you’re getting enough sleep. Nap if needed, but try to maintain a routine.
3. Stay Nourished – It’s common to lose your appetite during grief, but proper nutrition helps your body cope. Focus on small, nourishing meals and stay hydrated.
4. Engage in Gentle Movement – Activities like walking, yoga, or stretching can help reduce stress and release pent-up emotions. Movement doesn’t have to be intense to be beneficial.
5. Lean on Your Support Network – Share your thoughts and feelings with trusted friends, family members, or a grief support group. Speaking to others can help ease feelings of isolation.
6. Create Rituals to Remember – Honour your loved one by lighting a candle, writing a letter to them, or creating a memory box. Rituals can provide comfort and help you feel connected.
7. Take Breaks from Grief – It’s okay to find moments of joy or distraction. Watch a comforting movie, read a book, or engage in a hobby. These moments don’t diminish your love or loss.
8. Seek Professional Support – If your grief feels overwhelming or prolonged, consider speaking with a therapist or social worker specializing in bereavement.
9. Be Patient with Yourself – Grief is not linear. Some days will feel heavier than others, and that’s okay. Allow yourself the grace to heal in your own time.
10. Practice Mindfulness or Meditation – Breathing exercises or mindfulness practices can help ground you when emotions feel overpowering. Apps like Calm or Headspace can provide guided support.
Understanding What You Are Feeling
Grief
Grief: The reaction to the loss of a loved one. It can also be a reaction to the loss of relationships, physical ability, opportunities or future hopes and dreams.
Bereavement
Bereavement: The state of having suffered the loss of a loved one. It is the time after a loss during which grief is experienced and mourning occurs.
Anticipatory Grief:
Anticipatory Grief: The feeling of grief occurring before the death of someone close due to illness. A terminally ill individual may also feel this about their impending death.
Memorial Events
Each year, Hospice Orillia hosts four memorial events; Hike for Hospice, Garden of Remembrance, Wave of Light and Candles of Remembrance. Each event is unique in its own way providing community members the opportunity to come together to remember those no longer with us.
Honour Your Grief
Grief is a natural response to loss. It is the painful process of life change when someone you love is dying or has died. As you work to find new meaning in a world without the physical presence of your loved one, Hospice Orillia’s bereavement services offer you assistance and support. The programs offer a safe space for all individuals regardless of age, race, creed, disability, family and marital status, gender identity, gender expression, receipt of public assistance, record of offences, sex, or sexual orientation.
Upcoming Memorial Events
Hike for Hospice
Annually – First Sunday in May
Outdoor Event
A free community memorial event to honour those who are no longer with us.
Garden of Remembrance
Annually – June
Outdoor Event
A free community memorial event to honour those who are no longer with us.
Wave of Light
Annually – October 15th
Indoor Event
Gather with us to remember the babies and pregnancies that taken too soon.
Candles of Remembrance
Annually – Late November
Indoor Event
A free community memorial event to honour those who are no longer with us.