For most families, the holidays are a joyous time to celebrate, get together and make some new fond memories. Unfortunately, some individuals and families may not feel the same way as many find this supposedly festive season to be a reminder of the good times they once shared with a lost loved one. That is exactly exactly what Lurie Poulsen dreads this year. It will be her first Thanksgiving without her husband who lost his battle with cancer in February. To fight the loneliness and grief, she’s choosing to spend the holidays with family members. She also decided to join a group therapy as well as individual counseling. According to her, she made the right decision. “It made it feel easier because there were going to be more people around, people who cared,” said Poulsen, who called Judy Thye, bereavement

Last November 24th, an out of the ordinary funeral procession was witnessed by people who were along the Oxford Plains Speedway in Otisfield.   A procession composed of dozens of trucks lined up on the speedway on their way to the Community Hall where funeral services were held for Kelby Day. A 39-year-old logger, owner and operator of Day Brothers Logging, Kelby passed away last November 12 after undergoing numerous surgeries to correct his deteriorating condition. He left behind two children. “[The procession] means a lot,” said his friend Dan Knight, who helped organize the tribute, which brought together family, friends and men and women who simply knew of Day Brothers. “We are all friends of the Day Brothers,” said Bradley Crowell of Buckfield as he and scores of others talked in small groups outside the trucks, waiting to proceed onto

Death is a painful experience, particularly for those loved ones left behind. However, when the one taken away is gone too soon and money for funeral expenses are hard to come by, this can only add to the heartbreak. This is the predicament the family of six-year-old Jamerica Ragsdale,who was shot to death last week in Vicksburg, are going through. Fortunately, her church is helping out by accepting donations for funeral costs. To find out more and learn how you can help, click here.

When choosing a funeral home and preparing for the actual funeral, there are many factors to take into consideration and several steps to follow in order to ensure your loved one is honored the way he deserves. That is exactly what Melinda Gaulden, who operates Sullivan’s Funeral Home in Marshall with her husband, Richard Gaulden, discussed in a Marshall Lions Club meeting last November 12. According to Melinda, numerous things come into play like the location, facility, staff and tradition. She even spoke about it not being unusual for individuals to make arrangements for their own deaths through “Pre-Need” Funerals. This includes making decisions beforehand on whether to be buried or cremated, what type of coffin or urn will be used, even what flowers, photos, and the like will be displayed when the day comes. For more, click here.