ABSTRACT
Are the Hollisters typical of other families facing the unexpected loss of a loved one? Why are they still experiencing difficulties a year after Tom's death? Will they ever recover from the death? The answers to these and other questions hold the key to understanding the catastrophe of death in the family and will be discussed in this chapter. We will first consider the nature of death and dying which helps us understand it as a source of stress. Second, we will inventory the major sources of stress as well as characteristic ways families cope with them. Finally, we will speculate on the most prudent strategies for intervention, followed by a brief consideration of the policy implications. In addition, throughout the chapter we will refer to the Hollisters as a means of illustrating several theoretical ideas which may serve as an effective device for grasping the dynamics of family reactions to death.
