The listings below are not meant to be definative or exhaustive lists. Rather, they are good starting points that are either the most recommended, or that contained good lists or directories of grief related Internet resources (including online support groups) or print bibliographies. You can also (1) contact your local crisis center, school counseling center, or church to find local support groups and (2) visit your library to find print resources that your library owns or can get for you through interlibrary loan.

• (Coping with) Death, Loss and Grief
  A brief overview from Hampden-Sydney College's Counseling Center.
  [www.hsc.edu/counseling/selfhelp/grief.html]
  
  
• Final Words: Delivering a Eulogy
  By Marie Wallace
  [www.llrx.com/columns/guide60.htm]
  
  
• Grief Resources
  Mental Health Net's nearly comprehensive listing of online grief and bereavement information including online support groups. Has short descriptions of each online resource, as well as a rating of each resource.
  [www.mentalhelp.net/poc/center_index.php?id=58]

• Gold Star Wives
  Washington Liaison Office:
  5510 Columbia Pike
  Suite 205
  Arlington, VA 22204
  Ph: 1-888-479-9788
  Email: gswives2@aol.com
  URL: www.goldstarwives.org
  "Gold Star Wives is a support organization for spouses of those killed in the military on active duty or from service connected disabilities. GSW provides information on benefits and works to obtain additional benefits on a local and national level."

• No Greater Love
  1750 New York Avenue, NW
  Washington, DC 20006
  (202) 783-4665
  URL: www.ngl.org/
  "...dedicated to providing annual programs of remembrance, friendship and care for families who lost a loved one in the service of our country or by an act of terrorism."

• The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, Inc. (TAPS )
  2001 S Street, N.W., #300
  Washington D.C., 20009
  Ph: 1-800-959-TAPS (8277)
  Email: info@taps.org
  URL: www.taps.org/"
  ...a national non-profit organization made up of, and providing services to, all those who have lost a loved one while serving in the Armed Forces."

Reviews by Janelle.

NOTE: You may find that a particular book is extremely helpful at one point in your life, and totally inappropriate at another. You may disagree with some or all of the ideas in a book. That's ok! Just keep looking until you find the right thing to help you heal.

• The Courage To Grieve: Creative Living, Recovery, & Growth through Grief.--Judy Tatelbaum. The author knows what she's talking about--she couldn't accept a family death, couldn't even acknowledge it. But it was possible for her to heal.
  
  
• Healing Into Life & Death.--Stephen Levine. (Many other pertinent books and tapes, too.) Buddhist in technique, but made approachable for everyone. Stephen and Ondrea have worked with the dying and their loved ones for many years.
  
  
• Healing Life's Hurts: The 5 Stages of Forgiveness--Dennis & Matthew Linn. One of the first "stages of grieving" books. Written by 2 Catholic priests. They've written many other books since then.
  
  
• Hope for the Flowers--Trina Paulus. If you remember a bright yellow, little book, full of hand-drawn butterflies and their journey through life--this is it. Still gently changing the world after more than 25 years.
  
  
• I Heard The Owl Call My Name.--Margaret Craven. This is a novel, but it's the BEST book I know for coming to terms with life and death, and even daily survival.
  
  
• Kitchen Table Wisdom--Rachel Naomi Remen. A wise and gentle book, about finding your own path and meaning through rough times. Very comforting..
  
  
• Meditation for Kids (And Other Beings)--Laurie Fisher Huck. Not death-specific; but this little, blue book is the best way I know to find a little bit of peace. Hilarious illustrations that really get points across.
  
  
• Mr. God, This Is Anna--"Fynn". True story of a teenager and the little runaway he brings home. Anna was into exploring *everything* about life, death,...and why light frays. A *little bit* of Christian content--but Anna was very firm about going deeper than the spiritual names that are put on people and ideas. Very good, whether you need comfort, laughter, or a mind-stretch.
  
  
• A Rumor of Angels: Quotations for Living, Dying, and Letting Go--ed. by Gail & Jill Perry, intro. by Alice Walker. Really good quotes to help folks of any persuasion through every step of the process, including "negative" emotions. Not one of those sappy, "everything's ok", inspirational books.
  
  
• Sofia and the Heartmender--Marie Olofsdotter. A wonderful, healing picture book about Sofia's trials with shadow monsters and grumpy grownups--and how she gains courage and goes on. Watch for the cat in the illustrations. (Not death-specific; but even grownups find it healing.)
  
  
• Time Remembered: A Journal For Survivors.--Earl Grollman. This is a grief journal, to be used when someone you love has died. Has some gentle, leading questions/topics. NOTE: there are now lots of other grief journals on the market, too.
  
  

More grief, loss and recovery books from Amazon.com.
There are also guides for writing eulogies at Amazon.com.

© 1994 - 2009 SUVCW & David Merchant
Updated 4 April 2009