Marguerite O'Connor

Marguerite O'Connor, LFD, M.Ed., is passionate about helping bereaved families and friends celebrate the life of loved ones. Marguerite writes and delivers the eulogy, and coaches family members and friends who wish to speak or pay tribute in some way. Marguerite has earned the respect of colleagues and families served and thus receives referrals to expand the funeral celebrant concept. Having invested years as a Mortuary College Instructor, Marguerite is comfortable and happy when presenting programs and interacting with students. Marguerite has co-authored two books, Griefstruck: When a Death Changes Your Life, and Leading Change and Navigating Success: Bridging the Gap.

Articles:

Holiday Grief: Personal and Professional Lessons

Who wants more stress? Not me, thanks very much. I enjoy the holidays: giving & receiving, getting together with those I love & cherish, embracing meaningful rituals, appreciating holiday decorations, sharing special meals, reflecting on my gratitude & blessings, & acknowledging my ancestors & their contributions. I am mindful to meet some of my needs so that I can enjoy the holidays & keep my stress in check. I have a dear family member who lives a 3-hour airplane ride away. I also have a close family member who gets very sad & depressed around the holidays. I live in […]

Finding Hope Among the Global Losses

We have navigated many public losses, from Paris to Orlando to Nice. Some people are very empathetic and feel these losses deeply. Even though they may not have personally known those who died or were injured, they feel the Oneness that we are all connected, that individual choices and experiences affect all of us. For many, it is easier to feel solidarity with the victims, not the perpetrators or their families, but loss is loss and we are, generally speaking, fairly compassionate, as well as resilient. Some people note these tragedies and continue on, thinking they are relatively unchanged or […]

Hope for the Holidays: Grief Guidance

These are some concerns that have surfaced for others; it is my hope that the conversation is helpful to you. These are guidelines and are not intended to replace counseling, should you feel the need for personal assistance. Q: My husband and I, along with family and friends, are grieving the death of our 7-year-old daughter who died of cancer. We have two other children and want to make the holidays memorable for them, but we don’t feel happy or energized. Any suggestions welcome. A: Consider inviting others to share the holidays with you, either at your home, their home […]

Inspiring Attitudes and Holiday Help

I have had the honor of working with people who had or have life limiting conditions. When I was prearranging a funeral for a client who had been given a serious diagnosis, he decided to get his affairs in order. Widowed, he called an old sweetheart and found that she was not in a relationship. He shared how special she was to him and invited her on a cruise, all expenses paid and no strings attached. He arranged for a friend to finish out the lease on his luxury automobile. He arranged the monetary inheritance for his family members. He […]

Gone Too Soon: A Father’s Day Remembrance

Fathers are so important in our lives. To those fathers who are still with us, Happy Father’s Day. To those fathers who preceded us in death, who are gone too soon, we remember you. A special shout-out to all of the single fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, father figures, uncles, clergy, godfathers, neighbors, counselors, support group facilitators, employers, volunteers, coaches, teachers, soldiers, warriors & mentors, biological fathers, adoptive fathers, fathers-in-law & fathers of choice. Most fathers have been a caring presence in the lives of their families, providing emotional, spiritual, physical, educational, nutritional & financial support. Some fathers have walked away from, […]

Love, Loss, Planning and Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s is a day when love, chocolate, flowers, jewelry, greeting cards, romantic movies, dinners, drinks and the color red abound. And, Valentine’s Day can trigger those who are not “coupled” to feel sad, pressured, disappointed or lonesome. It can also be a day to have heartfelt conversations about current or future plans, passions, inspiring books, art or music; perhaps sharing dreams or experiences of traveling, contemplating relocating geographically, or discussing end-of-life wishes for yourself or those you love. What?! Discussing end-of-life wishes? Yes, impermanence is real. Conversation might include thoughts of making changes, perhaps moving to a different climate, or moving […]

Holiday Grief and Nutrition

The holidays are an opportunity to enjoy family, friends, food, drink and customs, as well as ethnic, religious and spiritual rituals. In addition to joyous experiences, like giving and receiving cards, gifts and donations, the holidays can also bring feelings of sadness, stress, disappointment, depression and loneliness to the surface, especially when we have experienced a loss. You may have heard of someone celebrating a “Blue Christmas.” These interfaith services are usually inclusive of all denominations and publicly acknowledge that not everyone is “happy” and that many people are mourning during this season. Historically, people wore black clothes or armbands, […]

Maya Angelou’s Death: Navigating the Loss of a Favorite Writer

I have been positively imprinted by so many wonderful writers that I am also impacted when they die. When Frank McCourt died, my friends & I, all authors, each read excerpts from his books at a cherished, independently owned, local bookstore. I read from Angela’s Ashes. This was our way of paying tribute to Frank, acknowledging his contributions and marking a significant loss. Though I did not know him personally, his writing is part of his legacy and it was a gift to me. It makes sense that I felt like acknowledging the gift and his unique life in some […]

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