ABSTRACT
The death of one its members will have an impact on family life and relationships and the balance within the family. The effects of loss on the family system will depend on the role the deceased played within the family and whether the death leaves a gap which someone else must now fill. The emotional integration of the family will affect the degree to which its members can help one another cope. And whether families value or hinder communication, particularly when it comes to expressing emotions (Worden 1991).
