Say their name, share their story

Losing someone close to us and experiencing grief is something that touches all our lives at some point and will occur throughout our entire lifetime.   

Here, Rachel, our income development and relationships manager, talks more about grief and a new partnership which means we can support you to share stories in honour of your loved ones…

When we lose someone important to us, it will impact each of us differently.  Grief is as unique as love is, involving many emotions, thoughts, and experiences.  Both can feel confusing and mysterious.  There is no set pattern and there is no end date.  Grief just changes.  

Talking about someone who has died, sharing stories, saying their name.   

Maintaining an enduring connection with the person we miss happens by having a safe space in which we can talk about them, say their name, share their story and our treasured memories.  We can do this without it preventing life going on.  It is not about reawakening intense feelings of sadness or anguish, but about enjoying life while remembering the happy memories, thoughts and feelings of the person who is no longer here with us.   

To help share your stories, or to pay tribute to your loved one, we have partnered with MuchLoved to provide a dedicated place to do this on our website.  It’s a very special community filled with supporters of Caritas like you. 

It can help to know that you are doing this while supporting local people experiencing poverty, homelessness and disadvantage at the same time.  

The act of giving in memory or group fundraising in someone’s memory is comforting for those that are bereaved, providing a positive focus, and encouraging mutual support between family and friends.  The motivation to give is intimately connected to the person being remembered, and the wish to ensure their memory lives on, that their name is seen, and their story shared.   To leave a dedication, create a tribute page, or arrange an online funeral collection, please visit https://www.caritassalford.org.uk/donate/donate-in-memory/  

Or, if you would like to know how you can leave a gift in your Will in someone’s memory, please contact Rachel to arrange a confidential chat by emailing legacy@caritassalford.org.uk 

At the heart of all of this is the loved one you miss.  Many people share with us their heart-warming memories and their – or their loved one’s – connection to Caritas. 

We’d love to hear yours too.