11/23/2016
We would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving from the staff of Saint Mary’s Cemetery of Winona. Thanksgiving can be a difficult day after the loss of a loved one. Many of us will be sitting down for Thanksgiving dinner this year having lost a loved one, dear friend, colleague or neighbor. The holidays can be difficult because we have so many memories of friends and family who have passed away which are attached to the smells, tastes, sounds and faces of these special days. If this is your first holiday season since the loss of a loved one, give yourself permission to feel what you need to feel and do what you need to do, to get through it. Remember, it is ok to smile and it is ok to laugh; even if smiling and laughing is through tears. These days can bring a mix of emotions to us. We confess our thanks, but also feel deeply saddened because of the empty place at our table. We know that death and sorrow were not in the original plan, but we also know that we can use difficulties to draw us closer to each other. Find ways to honor the memory of your loved one and to accept the support and care of those who love you. Loss teaches us to savor the moments we have with our loved ones that remain with us. It is right for us remember what we have lost, but we must also to look forward in hope to what we have promised in the future.
Here are some examples of how to make this time together an opportunity to remember your loved ones that have passed away.
• Continue traditions that your loved one started. This is a way to help honor your lost loved one on Thanksgiving.
• Give thanks for the time you had with your loved one. While saying what you are thankful for, share that you are thankful you had your loved one in your life.
• Talk about your loved one with friends and family. Thanksgiving can bring your family and friends together. Share your memories with them and encourage them to share favorite stories as well.
• Take time to visit our loved ones. Although the Saint Mary's Cemetery office will be closed both Thanksgiving and the day after, the cemetery itself remains ungated to allow the bereaved visitation with their loved ones over Thanksgiving.
*Please Note: Our main office will be closed for Thanksgiving and the day following but will reopen on Monday November 28, 2016. For those that may have missed our previous requests, we still have some beautiful fresh wreaths and crosses available for sale, which you can request on our website or by calling us Monday to place an order. Again, we would like to wish everyone a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!
