SECOND ACT

​As a funeral or deathcare professional, your responsibilities start the moment you answer the call. You fall into a routine, much like performing the same scene repeatedly, making tweaks to better connect with the audience. Your goal is to earn the family's gratitude at the end. But what if I told you that all that effort, compassion, and dedication is just the beginning? And you need to have a second act.  The second act will prove to be just as crucial as the first, reminding them of your ongoing role in supporting families beyond the funeral or deathcare service. 

THE SECOND ACT: We all know that days after the chaos subsides, visitors move on, the shock gives way to raw reality, and the family is left in silence; the grief becomes overwhelming. The outside world assumes they are resuming life as normal.  But in reality, life's normal is the past; the new is now.  
It's your time to become the "LIFELINE": 

• 3 Weeks AFTER the funeral:  Be that meaningful surprise. People often feel forgotten once the initial support fades, and the people who support them are also dealing with the loss.  Reach out for a gentle check-in to help them feel grounded and offer your continued support.  
• 3 Months AFTER: Grief doesn't run on a schedule; a message from your funeral group that says "we haven't forgotten" can be deeply healing.

How to REACH OUT:

• You can appoint an individual within your organization as the "Lifeline" Coordinator or mark your calendar to do so. The coordinator's role is to check in on the family or spouse at three weeks and three months.
• Your 3-week contact should be made via phone or a home visit—avoid using text messages or postal mail, as they need to interact with someone who can listen. The purpose is to reassure them that "you are still here for them" and to remind them that "you don't need to put on a brave face with me." Listen attentively, and during a visit, let them share stories and photos—your call or visit is invaluable.
• By three months, aim to remind them they are not forgotten; amidst everyone moving on, your words can have a healing effect. This contact can be a call, visit, or card—and should avoid impersonal texts. It's also an opportune moment to recommend a grief support resource, helping them discover free additional options available day and night when they need support. Here are free grief support options:  Info Here

And YES: by including the "Lifeline" service, you'll introduce a new additional method to show compassion and deepen relationships with the community and those you serve through empathy, listening, and connection.  

Keep wearing that invisible super cape; the world needs you!