August 1997
The Director - Features
How to Effectively Help a Family After a Homicide
Homicide survivors often struggle with running into every detail of planning a funeral.
Every year, there are roughly 24,000 murders in the United States. That is nearly one murder committed every 22 minutes. Whether you live in the city or a small town, homicide is an issue that affects everyone.
Along with feelings of sorrow and grief, homicide survivors often experience deep shock, confusion, loss of control and even anger. Bombarded with telephone calls and knocks on the door, they are often compelled to answer questions from the media and police. Through all of this turmoil, they must also plan the victim's funeral.
How to Effectively Help a Family After Homicide, written by Mary M. Wong, offers several tips for funeral directors serving families who are experiencing the loss of a loved one due to homicide. Overwhelmed, homicide survivors walk through a fog that prohibits them from tuning in to every detail of planning the funeral. This informative article shows how funeral directors can help families through this haze of chaos and lend a greater sense of comfort by developing a loving, nonjudgmental environment.
Wong, whose stepdaughter was murdered in 1984, is the author of Homicide: Understanding the Unique and Complex Challenges Survivors Face.
