Whether a sibling died young, old, tragically, or from natural causes, there is a pain that exists like no other. Many siblings are closely connected, whether from their childhoods or from a current relationship, which has been built over many years. Sibling relationships are full of memories, love, fights, jealousy, protectiveness, annoyance, rivalry, competitiveness, and more. Siblings experience many things together in their life that they never will with anyone else, it’s a truly unique, and sometimes complicated, relationship, which is why so many people struggle after the death of a brother or sister.
At Evergreen Cemetery, Funeral Home & Crematory, we have worked with many families who are mourning the death of a sibling and we’ve seen firsthand the struggle the surviving siblings are going through to accept the death of one of them.
Although they are gone from this life, we wanted to share some helpful tips and way you, as a surviving sibling, can cope with the death of your sibling.
Give yourself space – If you are able take time away from scenarios or environments that present a constant reminder of your sibling or your relationship with them. For example, you may not want to spend too much time in your childhood home, if it’s upsetting to you. You can stay with friends or go on a mini trip and take part in different activities that can give you some distance from the situation at hand for a bit, so you are able to work through the loss at your own pace, without being immersed in it.
Communicate with loved ones – Talk to those who bring you comfort and who can relate to your sense of loss like family and friends. When you talk to and spend time with friends, you can take a break from supporting other family members and you can focus more on your own feelings. Your friends can be your support system and listen to you. On the other hand, it will be a good thing to spend time with your family (parents, other siblings, cousins, etc), because they truly feel what you feel during this difficult time. You can all connect through shared memories, which can help you all grieve.
Take care of yourself – After a loss, it’s important and essential to take care of your mental and physical health. Make sure you are eating healthy and enough. Make sure you’re getting at least 30 minutes of activity per day. If you are feeling extremely depressed, numb, hopeless, angry, or anxious, seek out the help of a grief therapist. Taking care of yourself and feeling your best will help you through the grieving process.
Forgive yourself – There’s no such thing as the perfect sibling, so try not to be too hard on yourself for how you treated your sibling while they were alive. Siblings relationships can be tough and complicated, so it’s important to work on forgive yourself for some unkind things you may have said or the time you didn’t spend with them. A therapist or friends can also help you work through these tough feelings.
Find ways to remember your sibling – Keep your sibling’s memory alive can help you with the grieving process and feel connected to him/her even after death. You could take up a hobby he/she loved, make a family photobook of him/her, spend time with his/her children (if any), adopt his/her pet (if possible), create a charity or scholarship in his/her name, etc.
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Grieving the death of a sibling is not an easy process – there is no right or wrong way to grieve, and it’s important that you focus on keeping yourself healthy while you do. Never be afraid to reach out for help no matter where you are in the grieving process. Take your time, you will work through this pain.
At Evergreen Cemetery, we promise to work with you on the planning and organizing of the funeral and burial/cremation of your sibling to honor his/her wishes, along with the family’s wishes. Our team is there for you.
Our team at Evergreen Cemetery, Funeral Home & Crematory in Jacksonville, Fl, knows every family has different needs, and we can help you create proper services that reflect your wishes, your sibling’s wishes, while fitting within your budget.
Whether you’re looking for a burial or cremation or funeral reception services, we will work with you from start to finish throughout this process in your time of need.
We have served the Jacksonville community since 1880. We provide personalized and meaningful funeral services in Jacksonville and cremation services in Jacksonville to our clients in the community.
If you have any questions about funerals, cremations or burials, please reach out to us. We want to help you plan services without the worry of a financial burden.
If you’re looking for a funeral home in Jacksonville, Florida, Evergreen Cemetery, Funeral Home & Crematory can help you with the process every step of the way. Call us at 904-353-3649 for more information, or visit our funeral home Jacksonville, FL contact page.
