Robert L. Schenck

Funerals . . . rites of passage . . . transition . . . memorials . . . They are complicated moments in our human experience. Over my 40 years of Christian ministry, I've had the privilege of guiding many loved ones on how to appropriately mark the passing of spouse, partner, parent, child, friend. The approach I find best is to honor the feelings, the memories, the wishes of those who knew the deceased the best. Sometimes this is celebratory, at other times it is mournful, and it can be a mix of emotions--but at all times it is an act of generosity--a gift to the person we have lost, as well as to ourselves. Whether your tradition is Christian or not, I stand ready to help you in this difficult time.