What to Do When a Loved One Dies: A practical and compassionate guide to dealing with death on life's terms

Icon Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, the pioneer in death and dying, praised it. She said, “An excellent book. It’s truly a ‘help’ book, full of information on a very personal level.” The 408-paged, indexed book offers a practical and spiritual guide through the issues surrounding death and grief by a leader in the field of grief management. Topics include coping and grieving, understanding funerals and services, surviving violence and dealing with pet loss. There are examples of condolence letters and help navigating paperwork and final wishes. If you have recently experienced death, you know it’s impossible to prepare. Yet with the information within these pages, you should be able to handle the situation. In a difficult time, you’ll find help right here. Reading and applying the material will help you get through the experience of death. Perhaps, it can make the road a little smoother. With the information you can get a “handle” on the pain. Any death hurts, including that of a cherished family pet, as discussed in chapter 10. There’s no quick fix for grief, yet there are ways to help you heal even in the worst of times. Having this book as a resource is like being with a sensitive and trusted friend. You are not alone. With the book in hand you’ll begin to understand what’s going on “inside,” as well as how to cope with and work with the external changes brought on by the death of someone you loved. Everyone needs information on how to handle the details of a death. This is a “why-to” book, an encyclopedia filled with sensible and thorough information from experts in the field of death, grief and recovery. Like having a personal counselor at a time of need, the book covers topics as diverse as: • Taking immediate action after a death • Understanding rituals, funerals and services • Navigating funeral costs, paperwork and final wishes • Coping with emotional upheavals • Talking with children about death • Surviving the violent death of someone you love • Making decisions to donate organs • Grieving and locating support • Supporting a love one who is terminal • Dealing with pet loss • Writing condolences letters Dr. Shaw is a leading authority on grief and recovery and she shares advice in clear, understandable and helpful ways. There’s compassion, but no fluff. There’s spiritual reflections, along with the how-to cope one longs to find in a book on death. What to Do When a Loved One Dies is your complete guide through the issues surrounding death beginning with what to do in the first twenty-four hours. There are listings of hundreds of national support groups, resources that are invaluable, and real places to get real help. "What to Do When a Loved One Dies" should be on every family’s bookshelf. It will be there to refer to and share with others when the emotional and practical rollercoaster happens after there has been a death. Let this book be your guide. It tells you "What to Do When a Loved One Dies."

Eva Shaw, Ph.D., is an acclaimed expert on death, grief, and recovery. She has appeared as a guest expert on scores of national televisions shows. “Life doesn’t prepare us for death. We only find that out when someone we love dies,” she explains. Dr. Shaw serves on the State of California, Consumer Affairs Department, Funeral and Cemetery Bureau and is a sought-after keynote speaker for the veterinary, nursing, medical, hospice death care community. Dr. Shaw, her husband Joe, and their rambunctious Welsh terrier, Miss Button, live in Carlsbad, California. You can reach Dr. Shaw at www.evashaw.com.