jbronderbookreviews

Someone Died…Now What? by Corrie Sirota

(Excerpt from Goodreads) Someone Died… Now What? is a GPS for grieving. Corrie Sirota provides Guidance, Perspective and Support to help you navigate your way through the grief process. Whether someone you love has died or someone you know is struggling with a loss, this book addresses many of the issues and questions that surface, providing concrete assistance on what to do immediately following a death, how to deal with feelings of sadness, anger and guilt, non-death losses and how to support grieving children. You will learn that grief is an ongoing process, and is as unique and individual as you are.

Corrie Sirota

Corrie Sirota holds a Masters degree in Social Work as well as a Graduate Certificate in Loss and Bereavement from McGill University (Montreal) where she has been teaching as a lecturer in the School of Social Work for over 20 years. Corrie is a licensed psychotherapist who currently maintains a private practice specializing in Loss and Bereavement, Parenting issues and Relationship issues. She is a well-known lecturer who regularly presents at conferences and workshops, both locally and abroad. Working in the Montreal Community for over 2 decades, Corrie has developed numerous prevention and intervention programs for families, children and professionals, students and various community agencies as well as Day and Residential Camps.

Corrie has also written numerous articles and blog posts and is regularly interviewed on local radio, news and TV programs to consult on issues relating to loss and bereavement, Child Development and Parenting.

Review

5 stars

We all go through different events that shape our lives but I believe that death seems to be the hardest. As the mourner you have so many things going on that it’s hard to figure out what is going on, how to deal with the loss, and what to do from that point. On the other side you can see that someone is going through pain and you want to comfort them but this can be hard when it can be so easy to say the wrong thing and even losing patience with the person for their continued suffering.

When I was 33, I lost my father, who had been ill for many years and was expected to pass 10 + years ago. Although I knew it was coming it was still a shock when he passed. I admit that a couple years later and I am still wracked with guilt at not visiting with him more. I lost my mother, who had been sick for years a year after my father. Her passing was easier but I still find myself tearing up when I really think about the fact that she is no longer around to ask advice from or just to hear how her cats are doing.

The hardest part for me was to try and work through the loss. My family has always had that mentality. That no one really cares or can help so suck it up and keep going. I admit that I did break down and cry, which for me is something very rare. But I found it more frustrating how everyone was trying to treat me with kid gloves. But even when I act like things have moved on, when I was offered Someone Died…Now What? I admit that my sadness comes creeping back and I couldn’t help but take a look inside.

This book has information on anything that you could think of relating to death. If you are the person that lost someone or if you are a friend or family member of someone that lost someone this book is for you. There is information on the different steps of grieving and mourning. There is a list of things to say and not say. This book has everything and more that you could think of relating to death.

There are a couple sections that really stood out for me. The little section of guilt really hit home. When I lost my father I realized how I never really made the time to talk to him. When I did call home, which was rarely, I mainly talked to my mom. When he died I felt so guilty about my bad behavior and how I was really a bad daughter. The section on guilt was a lightbulb going off for me. I still feel bad but now I’m coming to terms with it.

I really like the section about someone else facing death. Because I grew up where you bottle up your emotions and get on with life, sadly I admit that I have a hard time when someone else has lost someone. Someone Died…Now What? has really helped me to understand how my reactions are the last thing someone needs. It has really helped me to be more compassionate and have more helpful things to say to them.

This is a great book for anyone dealing with loss. Although it is small, there is a lot of information for everyone. If you are going through it or have someone that is experiencing a loss this is one book that you need to pick up. It will change your life, it definitely helped me.

To purchase Someone Died…Now What?, or for more information, make sure to check out Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads, and Corrie Sirota’s website.

I received Someone Died…Now What? for free from iRead Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

Giveaway

Be sure to check out the giveaway to win 1 of 5 copies of Someone Died…Now What? and two winners will received 1 of 2 $10 Amazon Gift Cards.

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