The Grieving Process
The Grieving Process
Every person is unique in the way he or she handles the loss of a loved one. While the grieving process is different for each of us, we all experience some common feelings as we work toward healing from our loss.
Our responses to the different feelings that occur during the grieving process are often described as “stages.” These stages are not tied down to “real time”, and people do not necessarily move in and out of the stages in an orderly, straightforward manner. Stages can last for minutes or hours. It is not unusual to move into and out of one stage and then to another, and cycle back again to the first one. You may find yourself repeating this process a number of times as you continue to work through your grief.
There are five commonly observed stages that people experience during the grieving process. These stages are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
At the beginning, you may feel a sense of detachment, shock, or numbness. You may even wonder why you are not more upset over your loss. This feeling of disconnection is a survival response. It is simply nature's way of helping you to continue to function on a basic level while under extreme stress. Denial is a tool that unconsciously enables you to do the things that are necessary to carry on with your life in the days immediately following your loss.
Anger provides a bridge of connection from the initial numbness of grief. You may find yourself angry at the doctors, your family, the loved one who died, or at God. Anger is a necessary stage of the healing process. Your anger is connected to your pain. The more you truly allow yourself to feel your anger alongside the pain, the more it will diminish, and the more you will heal.
Before and after a loss, you may feel like you would have done anything if only your loved one would be spared. “If only” and “what if” becomes a recurrent thought. Guilt often accompanies bargaining. You may wonder if you could have done anything differently so that your loved one might still be alive. You may try to second-guess the doctors and yourself. You may revert to living in the past to avoid the pain of the present.
After bargaining, feelings of emptiness and grief present themselves on a deeper level. This depression is not a sign of mental illness. It is the appropriate response to a great loss. When a loss fully settles in your soul, and you realize that your loved one is not coming back, feelings of deep sadness (depression) are normal. To not experience depression after a loved one dies would be very unusual. Depression is a necessary step toward healing.
Eventually you come to terms with your bereavement as you move into the acceptance stage of grief. At this point, the loss has become part of your story and your history. It does not consume your life in the same way it did to begin with. With acceptance comes increased peace. As you move through this stage, you will find yourself once more interested in and able to enjoy some of the things that you formerly liked to do. You may develop new interests and relationships. You have learned to live with your loss in a way that is constructive and healing.
How long am I going to feel this way?
Every person is different, and so is their grief. Each person will follow a different path toward healing. Although there is no right or wrong amount of time to complete the grieving process, many experts agree that it is not unusual to take at least a year to move through the grieving process.
Complicated grief
The duration of the mourning process can also be influenced by your relationship to the deceased, the amount of support you receive, and other factors.
Sometimes the healing process may become disrupted or delayed if other events or traumatic losses have previously occurred in a person’s life. This may be especially true if the other loss is relatively recent, or has never been fully processed in and of itself. This grief experience is known as “complicated grief.” People who are dealing with this type of grief may benefit by working with professionals who are trained in dealing with complex grief issues.
If, after some time has passed, you find your grief is still persistent and disruptive to the point where it impacts your daily functions, please seek professional counseling.
Contact Us
Charles A. (Chuck) Hancock is a lifelong resident of Fort Meade. Chuck is the Funeral Director in Charge of Hancock Funeral Home and has served the Fort Meade community in funeral service for nearly 25 years. He began his funeral service career with our predecessor, Dan L. Moody, in 1986 at the young age of 16. Chuck is a 1988 graduate of Fort Meade High School, attended Lynn University in Boca Raton, FL, and a graduate of American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service in New York, NY. Chuck is a known and accomplished pianist and also serves the community as the pianist and music director of the First United Methodist Church of Fort Meade. Chuck also serves on the City of Fort Meade Evergreen Cemetery Advisory Council and is a member of the Fort Meade Historical Society.
Charles A. (Chuck) Hancock is a lifelong resident of Fort Meade. Chuck is the Funeral Director in Charge of Hancock Funeral Home and has served the Fort Meade community in funeral service for nearly 25 years. He began his funeral service career with our predecessor, Dan L. Moody, in 1986 at the young age of 16. Chuck is a 1988 graduate of Fort Meade High School, attended Lynn University in Boca Raton, FL, and a graduate of American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service in New York, NY. Chuck is a known and accomplished pianist and also serves the community as the pianist and music director of the First United Methodist Church of Fort Meade. Chuck also serves on the City of Fort Meade Evergreen Cemetery Advisory Council and is a member of the Fort Meade Historical Society.
W. Allen Hancock is a lifelong resident of Fort Meade, and a 1960 graduate of Fort Meade High School. Allen began his funeral service career in 1958 at Bevis Funeral Home in Fort Meade and worked with the Bevis Funeral Home and Seidel Funeral Home. He continued working part time with Dan L. Moody at Moody Funeral Home while continuing his career with Publix Supermarkets, and retiring from Publix in 1993, as Equipment Coordinator and purchaser for Florida and Georgia. He is a U.S. Army veteran, and has a commitment to the city of Fort Meade, as he has served as Commander of Fort Meade American Legion Post 23 for over 20 years; serves on the Fort Meade Chamber of Commerce; serves on the board of the Fort Meade Historical Society, and also the senior board member of Christ Episcopal Church in Fort Meade. Allen has had a lifetime full of funeral service experience and enjoys serving the community of Fort Meade when the services of Hancock Funeral Home are needed.
W. Allen Hancock is a lifelong resident of Fort Meade, and a 1960 graduate of Fort Meade High School. Allen began his funeral service career in 1958 at Bevis Funeral Home in Fort Meade and worked with the Bevis Funeral Home and Seidel Funeral Home. He continued working part time with Dan L. Moody at Moody Funeral Home while continuing his career with Publix Supermarkets, and retiring from Publix in 1993, as Equipment Coordinator and purchaser for Florida and Georgia. He is a U.S. Army veteran, and has a commitment to the city of Fort Meade, as he has served as Commander of Fort Meade American Legion Post 23 for over 20 years; serves on the Fort Meade Chamber of Commerce; serves on the board of the Fort Meade Historical Society, and also the senior board member of Christ Episcopal Church in Fort Meade. Allen has had a lifetime full of funeral service experience and enjoys serving the community of Fort Meade when the services of Hancock Funeral Home are needed.
Russell Hancock, a lifelong Fort Meade resident, is the youngest son of Allen and Margie Hancock. Russell graduated from Fort Meade High School in 1994, and he is also a graduate of Florida Southern College in Lakeland with a bachelor's Degree in Marketing and Communications. He is a member of Christ Episcopal Church, where he is very active. Russell provides a vast knowledge of computers and media knowledge for our firm.
Russell Hancock, a lifelong Fort Meade resident, is the youngest son of Allen and Margie Hancock. Russell graduated from Fort Meade High School in 1994, and he is also a graduate of Florida Southern College in Lakeland with a bachelor's Degree in Marketing and Communications. He is a member of Christ Episcopal Church, where he is very active. Russell provides a vast knowledge of computers and media knowledge for our firm.
Ed Flood is a lifelong Polk County resident. Being the great-grandson of Luke B. and Alicia Flood, pioneer residents of Fort Meade, he knows the people of our city. Ed and his wife, Carolyn (Waters) Flood, are members of the First Baptist Church of Fort Meade, and they have two children, Eddie and Michael, and several grandchildren. Ed is also retired from the accounting department of the Polk County School Board.
Ed Flood is a lifelong Polk County resident. Being the great-grandson of Luke B. and Alicia Flood, pioneer residents of Fort Meade, he knows the people of our city. Ed and his wife, Carolyn (Waters) Flood, are members of the First Baptist Church of Fort Meade, and they have two children, Eddie and Michael, and several grandchildren. Ed is also retired from the accounting department of the Polk County School Board.
Michael S. Woods is a 1976 graduate of Fort Meade High School. After high school, Mike spent 22 years serving in the United States Air Force with the Office of Special Investigations. Retiring in 1999, he then served 12 years with the Fort Meade Police Department and the Polk County Sheriff's Office. Mike is currently an active Deacon and member of the First Baptist Church of Fort Meade, and an adjunct professor at South Florida State College. He has a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice and a Master's degree in Communication. Mike is married to Cynthia Lamb Woods and has two adult children, Dustin who lives in Lake Placid, FL, and Derek who lives in Pensacola, FL.
Michael S. Woods is a 1976 graduate of Fort Meade High School. After high school, Mike spent 22 years serving in the United States Air Force with the Office of Special Investigations. Retiring in 1999, he then served 12 years with the Fort Meade Police Department and the Polk County Sheriff's Office. Mike is currently an active Deacon and member of the First Baptist Church of Fort Meade, and an adjunct professor at South Florida State College. He has a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice and a Master's degree in Communication. Mike is married to Cynthia Lamb Woods and has two adult children, Dustin who lives in Lake Placid, FL, and Derek who lives in Pensacola, FL.
Dan L. Moody and Ruby Gillispie Moody, founders of Moody Funeral Home, spent nearly a lifetime establishing the funeral home that we are now, which opened on Jan. 7, 1965 as Moody Funeral Home. Moody Funeral Home remained until Sept. 29, 2006, when the name changed to Hancock Funeral Home. Dan passed away in July of 2008, and Ruby remains very active in local church and community activities. Dan L. Moody and Ruby G. Moody are well known and remembered for their caring funeral service to the City of Fort Meade and surrounding cities for over 30 years.
Dan L. Moody and Ruby Gillispie Moody, founders of Moody Funeral Home, spent nearly a lifetime establishing the funeral home that we are now, which opened on Jan. 7, 1965 as Moody Funeral Home. Moody Funeral Home remained until Sept. 29, 2006, when the name changed to Hancock Funeral Home. Dan passed away in July of 2008, and Ruby remains very active in local church and community activities. Dan L. Moody and Ruby G. Moody are well known and remembered for their caring funeral service to the City of Fort Meade and surrounding cities for over 30 years.
As a member of our staff for many years, and also our adopted family member, Harold Lamb passed away January 12, 2016 at the age of 87. Harold was a long standing Polk County, FL funeral director, and currently, was the most senior, active funeral director of Polk County, FL. Harold was a U.S. Navy Veteran, serving on the USS Kidd, and was aboard its attack in the Battle of Okinawa during WWII, of which he received a purple heart at the age of 16 for his injuries. He was a lifelong resident of Lakeland, and enjoyed serving the city of Fort Meade and families that are served through Hancock Funeral Home, and the city of Lakeland where he also worked for many years at Gentry-Morrison Funeral Homes and Dukes-Steen Funeral Home. Harold's funeral services were held January 15, 2016 and he is interred in Oak Hill Burial Park, Lakeland, FL.
As a member of our staff for many years, and also our adopted family member, Harold Lamb passed away January 12, 2016 at the age of 87. Harold was a long standing Polk County, FL funeral director, and currently, was the most senior, active funeral director of Polk County, FL. Harold was a U.S. Navy Veteran, serving on the USS Kidd, and was aboard its attack in the Battle of Okinawa during WWII, of which he received a purple heart at the age of 16 for his injuries. He was a lifelong resident of Lakeland, and enjoyed serving the city of Fort Meade and families that are served through Hancock Funeral Home, and the city of Lakeland where he also worked for many years at Gentry-Morrison Funeral Homes and Dukes-Steen Funeral Home. Harold's funeral services were held January 15, 2016 and he is interred in Oak Hill Burial Park, Lakeland, FL.
