The early stages of this can be the most difficult, especially when there are so many preparations that need to be made and affairs that need to be put in order. However, there will always be people who are able to assist with these issues, so you can focus on the healing process. To help you understand the emotional turmoil of losing a loved one, we look at the five common signs of grief, as introduced by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in her book ‘On Death and Dying’ in 1969.

Denial

The first stage of grief is denial. This is the stage where the world seems overwhelming and meaningless and many people start to feel lost and numb. This is when your loss is still fresh and you feel raw. You’ll also be funnelling a lot of your energy into just surviving and making it through each day.

However, this initial shock and denial actually helps us to cope and start healing. Slowly, you will start to accept the loss and ask questions, which will ultimately help you start the healing process.

Anger

Anger is an important part of the healing process; so don’t try to block it out. Be willing to feel the anger, even if it feels like it will never fizzle out. As the anger reaches its peak, it will start to dissipate on its own, and you’ll slowly start to heal. Underneath the anger is your raw pain; with the feelings of anger and resentment you’re feeling playing the role of an anchor. To begin with, when you lose someone you feel lost, but as you start to feel angry, your feet find solid ground again and you start to realise that the anger you’re feeling is just another sign of the intensity of your love for the person you have lost.

Bargaining

The bargaining stage of grief is the stage when you start asking ‘what if?’ or thinking ‘If only’… We start to feel an urgency and desperation to return our lives to what it was before, finding ourselves stuck in the past and desperately trying to find a way out of the grief and the pain. This can be happening throughout any of the stages of grief, as they’re not necessarily linear and can all be happening at the same time or in a seemingly disorganised fashion.

Depression

As you start to move past the ‘What if?’ stage, your attention and feelings will start to move into the present. For many, this is the worst stage of grief as the feeling of emptiness starts to really set in, with the reality of the loss looming above you. A lot of people will start to withdraw from life and you might find yourself wondering what the point in life is. This is the stark reality of depression and these empty feelings can stick around longer than many of the previous stages of grief.

Acceptance

You’ll probably never feel okay or right about the loss of someone you loved. However, acceptance is about coming to terms with the fact that your new reality is permanent and that there’s no going back to the way things were before your loved one passed away. As you start to accept your situation, you’ll be able to start looking forward again. There are times when you might feel guilty about finding happiness elsewhere or with someone else, but it’s perfectly natural. Eventually, you will move through your grief and start living again.

However, in the early days of your grief, make sure you lean on your friends and family for support. You can also entrust important arrangements like selecting a suitable monument and mausoleum panel with companies who handle these sorts of arrangements on a daily basis.

Contact G.C.Smith & Co about how we can help take some of the stress off you during this difficult time, today!

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In much of the modern world, mausoleums are popular structures because they provide people with a dignified place to commemorate their deceased loved ones.

In Western Australia alone, there are five beautifully designed public mausoleums that provide the Western Australian community access to a distinguished form of final rest.

The History of Mausoleums

Mausoleums, which are free-standing buildings that are constructed to house one or more burial chambers, date as far back as the Roman Empire, perhaps even further.

The word mausoleum comes from ’The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus’, which is where the grave of King Mausolus, the Persian Satrap of Caria, lies. This architectural wonder is so grand; it was once considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Early versions of mausoleums can be found in ancient ruins cross Rome, and of course, the pyramids in Egypt.

However, this form of burial didn’t gain widespread popularity until the early modern and modern periods, when they first rose to popularity in Europe and its colonies.

Modern Day Mausoleums

Historically, mausoleums were large and impressive structures that were built for a deceased leader or a person of extreme importance. Nowadays, many mausoleums are still impressive structures, but they’re more accessible to the general public. They’ve also become the most common place of rest for people who choose to be cremated.

A crypt in each of these mausoleums can be purchased at the time of bereavement or prior to bereavement, and can then be adorned with plaques and inscriptions and extra decorative elements.

Some mausoleums do have restrictions on the style of lettering, attachment of photos, crucifixes, and lamps, but we are familiar with all of these regulations and can guide you through the options of what you can and can’t do.

To add a personal touch to your loved one’s crypt, contact G.C.Smith & Co about our services today.

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A headstone isn’t just used to mark the spot someone is buried; it’s used to memorialise the life of someone you love. With roots that date as far back as Ancient Roman and Celtic times, the concept of a gravestone is far from new.

The History of Tombstones and Headstones

The ancient Romans used to erect headstones as a way of commemorating the deceased’s victories in battle, and as such, many of these early headstones would outline the name and title of the person who had passed.

Celtic cultures, on the other hand, had quite simple methods of marking a grave, usually with a pile of rocks. It wasn’t until St. Patrick introduced Christianity to the Irish that they introduced more advanced methods of marking a grave. The headstones were soon shaped like Celtic crosses with a circle through the middle.

Over time, headstones have gone through multiple transformations, until the idea of the graveyard, that we still use today was created in the 19^th century, which is also around about the time that granite started to become the material of choice for mourners who wanted to make sure their loved one’s tombstone would stand the test of time.

Choosing the Granite Tombstone or Marble Monument that’s Right for You

Whether you’re after a granite tombstone or headstone to mark your loved one’s grave, or a decorative marble monument that will be as grand as the life your loved one led, G.C. Smith & Co. can help!

Our high-quality stone monuments, made from granite or marble, ensure all of our monuments and tombstones exude certain elegance, while also being sturdy and long-lasting to make sure they are as practical as they are beautiful.

Commemorating a loved one is easy when you have multiple designs and colours to choose from, so you can ensure their final resting place is representative of their personal style and character. To add the finishing touches to your loved one’s grave, we even supply a selection of accessories that will further commemorate the life of the deceased. Whether you’re after an angel to watch over your loved one, or a frame to place their picture in, we’ve got everything you need.

Saying goodbye to someone you love is never easy, but by giving them a final resting place that you can visit as much as you like, the memory of them will never fade.

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