Sorrow and Solace

Sorrow and Solace focuses on the importance of cemeteries in the lives of everyday mourners, and ways in which our bereaved give meaning to and draw value from their commemorative activities. The death of someone dear to us is among the most momentous life event that we experience. In many societies, visiting the grave or memorial is a common behavioural response to bereavement. Memorial sites provide vital connections to our deceased loved ones with whom we wish to maintain ongoing social bonds, and cemeteries are crucial places of deep healing and growth. Millions of visits are made to cemeteries every day, but the extent of this activity and its value to those who mourn - the topics of this volume - have long remained largely unrecognised. Large urban memorial parks are hives of activity for recently bereaved persons, and are among the most visited places in Western communities. Some cemeteries, hosting millions of annual visits, are more popular than many major tourist attractions. Cemetery visitation is a high-participatory, value-laden, expressive activity, and a most significant observable behaviour of the recently bereaved. This work will be invaluable to those seeking a scholarly understanding of bereavement, mourning, and commemoration. Written principally for professionals with a tertiary educational interest in related fields, such as grief educators, nurses, palliative carers, and social workers, it is also an important resource for the further education of other carers and service providers, including psychologists, physicians, counsellors, clergy, funeral directors, cemetery administrators, and monumental masons. The book is also a significant contribution to the field of social anthropology.

Philip Bachelor is past President of the Cemeteries & Crematoria Association of Victoria, and honorary Secretary of the Centre for Grief Education in Melbourne.

Introduction PART A Chapter 1. Evolution of the Cemetery Milieu Recent Centuries Garden Cemeteries Railway Access Compartmentalization Cremation Memorial Parks Mausolea Conclusion References Chapter 2. Death Today When We Die Why We Die Where We Die References Chapter 3. Concepts of Bereavement and Grief Bereavement Theories Grief Processes Sociological Perspectives Accommodation of Grief Impacts of Grief and Trauma Conclusion References Chapter 4. Research Methodologies Quantitative Methodology Naturalistic Observation Qualitative Methodology Conclusion References PART B Chapter 5. Visitation Patterns Significance of Cemetery Visitation Patterns Frequency Duration Anniversaries Trajectory Summary References Chapter 6. Social Factors Relationship Age Sex Education and Employment Conclusion References Chapter 7. Cultural Factors Religion Specific Religious Practices Nationality Primary Service Conclusion References PART C Chapter 8. Visitation Reasons Obligation Emotional Bond Solace Other Reasons Summary of Visitation Reasons References Chapter 9. Visitation Activities Placing Flowers Maintaining the Grave or Memorial Talking to the Decedent Crying Prayer Other Activities Summary of Visitation Activities Reference Chapter 10. Emotions Sorrow Solace Guilt Loss Respect Fear Loneliness Anger Emotional Change Summary of Visitation Emotions References Chapter 11. Frequency Modulation Turning Points Summary of Visitation Frequency References Chapter 12. Non-Visitation Reasons Non-Interment of Remains Inability to Access the Cemetery Grief Repression Religious Restrictions No Perceived Need to Visit Summary of Non-Visitation Reasons References Chapter 13. Personal Values The Funeral The Cemetery The Memorial Visitation References Chapter 14. Working Through Grief Grief-Work The Place of the Cemetery Within Contexts of Grief References Glossary Index About the Author