ABSTRACT
People die suddenly and they die slowly and in all stages in between; their deaths can be expected, unexpected, and all stages in between; they can have timely deaths, untimely deaths, and all stages in between. And each of these continua will affect the kind of transition experienced by the survivor. Immediately after the death some people feel the pangs of grief just described, while others experience a numbness that appears to be comparable to a state of shock, leaving the widow without the anticipated feelings of or physical responses to grief. This chapter emphasizes, is a dynamic process and not a static occurrence. It discusses a variety of concerns that develop immediately following the death—and frequently preceding it—and that continue, although often with diminishing intensity and frequency, for an extended period of time. These are physical and health changes, psychological and emotional distress, social and relational concerns, and practical issues.
