We are privileged to serve and assist our friends and neighbors in the task of personalizing a truly fitting service — memorializing the life of their loved one.

AfterLoss
Learning to cope with grief
Because we understand...

We are pleased and honored to provide you with a sensitive and caring grief-recovery program specially developed to help you deal with the grief that follows the loss of a loved one.
This program is our gift to you.

Helping you understand how to deal with grief, this program consists of a series of monthly helpletters called AfterLoss. One will be sent to your home each month.

AfterLoss will be there for you — bringing encouragement, practical support and guidance to help you move into the days ahead.

AfterLoss will help you face tomorrow by teaching you how to deal with the problems of today including the painful feelings and emotions that arise after a loss, such as grief and loneliness, and even guilt and rage.

Providing support for you is just one way we hope to continue to be of service. Please know that we are here for you.

The AfterLoss Credo

I may often need to tell you what happened –
or to ask you why it happened.
Each time I discuss my loss, I am helping myself
face the reality of the death of my loved one.
I need to know that you care about me.
I need to feel your touch, your hugs.
I need you to just be with me
(And I need to be with you.)
I need to talk about my loss.
I need to know you believe in me and in my
ability to get through my grief in my own way.
(And in my own time.)
Please don't judge me now –
or think that I'm behaving strangely.
Remember I'm grieving.
I may even be in shock.
I may feel afraid. I may feel deep rage.
I may even feel guilty. - But above all, I hurt.
I'm experiencing a pain unlike Any I've ever felt before.
Don't worry if you think l'm getting better
and then suddenly I seem to slip backward.
Grief makes me behave this way at times.
And please don’t tell me you ‘know how I feel,’
or that it's time for me to get on with my life.
(I am probably already saying this to myself.)
What I need now is time to grieve and to recover.
Most of all, thank you for being my friend.
Thank you for your patience.
Thank you for caring
Thank you for helping, for understanding.
Thank you for praying for me.
And remember, in the days or years ahead,
after your loss - when you need me
as I have needed you - I will understand.
And then I will come and be with you.

- Barbara Hills- LesStrang

You Never Know Bereavement Service
Susan Tuomela
Facilitator - Support Groups
Consultant - Speaker
Resources - Printed Materials
(218) 749-2089
8573 Spring Park Rd.
Mt. Iron, MN 55768
Wednesday 5-8 p.m. Sunday 5 - 9 p.m.

Range Mental Health Center
624 South 13th St.
Virginia, MN 55792
(218) 749-2881
Toll free (800) 450-2273

St. Mary's Grief Center
407 East 3rd St.
Duluth, MN 55805
(218) 786-4402

Richard Obershaw
MSW, ACSW
Founder of the Grief Center in Burnsvile, Minnesota
(612) 867-4866

Camp Amanda - We are very pleased to inform you that we are a funeral home sponsor for Camp Amanda Minnesota. Camp Amanda is a 2 day grief camp, offered throughout the year, that provides opportunities for children ages 6-18 to meet other children whose loved ones have died. Camp Amanda is free to all campers sponsered by a MFDA member funeral home. The camp is funded by the support members of the Minnesota Funeral Directors Association and members of the funeral service community.
http://www.campamandaminn.com