Often after a death–no matter the circumstances–we are tempted to try and forget; the anger, pain, and sadness we experience after a loved one’s passing are feelings we may try to run from or put out of our minds.

But after we grieve, and after some time has passed and we begin to move on, we begin to realize how important it is to remember those whom we’ve lost. And though some of those emotions may still be painful, it’s important to try and remember that we are not dwelling on the person’s death, but rather celebrating the life they lived.

The holidays, especially, are a wonderful time to honor and remember our friends and loved ones who have passed away. Many groups in our community host public remembrance ceremonies throughout the holidays and the year. Public remembrances can bring up many personal emotions, but often it helps to be surrounded by those who understand and who can share in what you’ve been through. But celebrating and remembering in your own way can be as public or as private, and as simple or as festive, as you want and need it to be. The important thing is that you are keeping alive the memories of those who were, and will continue to be, important to you.

Don’t be afraid to take some time every once in a while to remember the ones you’ve lost. Not only will you be keeping their memories alive, but you’ll be showing your appreciation for the life they lived and the lives they’ve touched–including yours.

Howard K. Hill

As always we are proud of our community and families we are honored to serve. To help with this initiative you can follow us on Facebook, Twitter and even YouTube. If you have any questions about our services or are in need please feel free to contact Howard K Funeral Home to know everything you need to know about funerals and funeral services. Howard K. Hill Funeral Services has had the privilege of serving families in communities such as Suffield CT, Meriden CT, Hartford CT, New Haven CT, Bloomfield CT, Windsor CT and Hamden CT. We would like the honor to serve you too. Call us at (203) 551-9639 or visit our blog.

photo by patries71

Life only comes around once, and we should all look to life to its fullest. Our lives are spent creating bonds with the people we love and the people who are closest to us. Everyone should look at leaving behind pleasant memories of life to their loved ones. However, we create many situations for ourselves where feuds and conflicts arise between family members and friends. While it is a natural thing for everyone to not be able to agree on one point, there are instances where you, as an adult in the family, can do a lot to settle such feuds.

Family feuds are among the worst kinds of conflicting situations that we come across, and it is painful in some ways for both parties that are involved in the feud. A very necessary component of celebrating life is family, as we are closest to our family members in many ways and spend a large fraction of our time with loved ones. If that time is tainted by a feud, then we should do our best to resolve such issues.

We can resolve family feuds by making family members sit down and share their experiences and needs accordingly. This is vital for the maintenance of order in the family, as a broken family goes through a greater amount of suffering when a loved one departs. As such, celebrating your life is important, and you can only do so with a family that functions as a single, cohesive unit.

There are instances in our lives where feuds and arguments turn ugly. In cases of increased hostility, we end up not speaking to our loved ones. This is a serious hindrance in living a life that is packed with wonderful memories. Ever so often, sibling rivalries also cause people to stop speaking, thus creating additional tension. As a resolution, we should look to eliminate such sibling rivalries, as such instances become a cause for sorrow for the family, especially when a loved one passes away and solidarity is needed to bind everyone together.

It is also common for families to lose touch when they are far away from each other, and the loss of a loved one is particularly painful when there is fallout between family members. The worst scenario here is that we may not come to know of the loss of a family member on time. Therefore, we should all look to resolve any existing conflicts that we have within our family and celebrate our time on earth by spreading love among all our loved ones.

During times of grief, loss, and trouble, it is only our loved ones who are around for help- even if we don’t expect or want any of it. HKH Funeral Homes is one of the reputed funeral homes that can help you wade peacefully through troubled times by encouraging family solidarity during memorial services. Howard K. Hill Funeral Services has had the privilege of serving families in communities such as Suffield CT, Meriden CT, Hartford CT, New Haven CT, Bloomfield CT, Windsor CT and Hamden CT. We would like the privilege to serve you too. Call us at (203) 551-9639 or visit our blog at: http://connecticutfuneralhomeblog.com/

photo by arrow734

I cannot thank you enough for the magnificent job your staff did for my grandmother’s home going services on Monday.

Your service was impeccable, proficient, comforting and encouraging….from the time we walked into the door on Tuesday April 13th to the actual service on April 19th. I can truly say that the staff at HKH is second to none…

I have been to quite a few funeral services over my lifetime and have not seen the level of professionalism that you all have exhibited to us. From the young man who came to get my Grandmother from the convalescent home, to the person who opened the door for us as we came to your offices, to Howard, not counting it robbery to come and sit with us and talk to us, making sure everything was in order,  to Jerry walking us through all of the pricing and funeral arrangements, to Orcella really being so kind and gentle and loving and explaining things to us, to Pastor Steve Harvin for being there as a source of comfort…with his special anointing to make you smile and even laugh in the midst of the sorrow….to Eld Burgess even as he ministered to my mother as he drove the family vehicle…to the many names that I do not know…. you all were awesome.

The way you handled the crowds, kept everyone moving with such loving care, no one was rude nor disrespectful…just amazing….and THE BEST PART….was when Pastor Steve unfolded the blanket of my Grandmother and wrapped it around my mother….what a touch of class!!! I tell you….words couldn’t even express the gratitude for that gesture! It just shows more of your personalized service that really made us feel special.

I am really impressed by the level of excellence in which you operate. Believe me when I tell you that you have made an indelible mark on the city of Waterbury and on our family at large…there were many people who came up to me personally asking for your information…I gladly gave it to them…not that I am looking to go anywhere anytime soon, but dealing with you all have opened my eyes that I need to get my business in order…so I will be coming to see you to get my funeral arrangements in motion. We don’t like to talk about that kind of stuff, but as you all have opened my eyes, it is very necessary…

I can’t thank you enough for the genuine love that we felt! You all are some blessed people, anointed and appointed to do what you do! Although the circumstances weren’t what I personally would have chosen, I am glad to have made the acquaintance of each and everyone of you that I encountered.

You all will forever be etched in my heart for turning this difficult time into a joyful experience which I will never forget.

Again, thank you,  thank you,  thank you….

If you can personally thank Howard, Jerry, and Steve for me that would be so appreciated!!!

May God Richly bless you all!
Sincerely,
Alicia A. Sweat
203-419-6490

Funeral Services Hartford CT - Howard K. Hill Funeral Homes serving Hartford area take pride in providing a family atmosphere for family and friends to pay their final respects to loved ones. Call us at (203)551-9639

When life is turned upside down by the threat of a major disease or the loss of a loved one, we can feel terrified of the future. Imagine how Frodo Baggins felt the day he was forced to leave his cozy life in a village called the Shire.

Frodo, the hero of J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, had just been chosen for a mission that would determine the course of history—not the sort of after-school assignment he would have volunteered for.

Talk about a major life change: On the way to accomplishing his mission, Frodo is stabbed by a ghost, chased by all sorts of nasty, sword-wielding creatures, and almost eaten alive by a spider that’s as big as a bull. Forget about “adapting to a new normal”—Frodo is just trying to stay alive from one minute to the next.

When bad things happen

There’s an unforgettable scene in The Fellowship of the Ring, Peter Jackson’s film version of the first book in the Tolkien trilogy. Exhausted and afraid, Frodo is beginning to lose hope.

“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” Frodo says to Gandalf, his mentor and friend.

“So do I,” Gandalf replies—“and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

You probably don’t have carnivorous spiders stalking you. But I’m sure there are days when you feel as if you did. Like Frodo and his friends, you might be facing a life-threatening struggle. Like Frodo, you’re wondering why it had to happen.

We can’t control everything that happens in life. But we can learn to cope with change by letting go of the bad and holding on to the good.

Tell us your story

Tell us about how you coped with a major life change. Sharing your story is a vital part of the healing process.