Whitehurst Funeral Chapel

DID YOU KNOW? All music lovers could consider turning your ashes into a vinyl record. You can leave a recorded message, your last will and testament or a selection of your favorite tunes.

Today is National Take Your Dog to Work Day, a celebration of the special bond between canine and human. It's celebrated each year on the Friday after Father's Day. Do you have your beloved dog with you at work today? Sending extra love to those who are missing a pet who has passed.

Walk with the dreamers, the believers, the courageous, the cheerful, the planners, the doers, the successful people with their heads in the clouds and their feet on the ground. Let their spirit ignite a fire within you to leave this world better than when you found it... - Wilferd Peterson

Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier. - Mother Teresa of Calcutta

I have yet to meet one widow who hasn't changed in monumental ways as she has coped with her loss. Most of us have gotten to the point where we are not the 'pleasers' we once were. We say what we think, we realize that life is precious, and we don't have time to be anything less than who we really are. -Catherine Tidd, author of "Confessions of a Mediocre Widow" June 23rd is International Widows' Day. Countries around the world take this day to recognize and support the unique experiences and difficulties that women face after the loss of a partner. We want to take this day to let all widows know that we are here to support you through your unique grief journey. Have you lost a partner? Let us know what you're doing to cope.

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." - Martin Luther King Jr

Cicely Tyson, American actress and model, passed away last week at the age of 96. Cicely was born in East Harlem and was a successful fashion model before beginning her acting career. Her first film role was in "Carbin Gold" in 1956. In the early 1960s, Tyson was cast in the role of Stephanie in the play, "The Blacks," which became the longest running off-Broadway non-musical of the decade. In 1972, Cicely was nominated for both an Academy Award and Golden Globe for best actr...ess for her role of Rebecca Morgan in "Sounder." Tyson's decades long career includes roles in "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman" (1977), "Roots" (1977), and "The Help" (2011), to name a few. Although her acting career earned her many awards and nominations, she described receiving the Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama as her most important accomplishment and "the most important thing that could happen to me." A lasting and inspiring career. Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones during this difficult time.

Courage is simply never giving up

Veterans often experience traumatic grief. Watch the video to learn more.

Cloris Leachman, American actress and comedienne, passed away this week at the age of 94. Cloris was born and raised in Des Moines, IA. Her father founded the Leachman Lumber Company, which is still in business today. After graduating from Theodore Roosevelt High School, she attended Northwestern University. However, after winning a scholarship for placing in the top 16 of a Miss America pageant in 1946, she began studying acting at the Actors Studio in New York City. Her fi...rst starring role was in the film Kiss Me Deadly. Leachman continued to spend most of her early career in television roles, including The Mary Tyler Moore Show and the spinoff, Phyllis. Later, she would star as Ruth Popper in the film, The Last Picture Show, earning her the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Leachman's more than seven decades-long career received many accolades. Her long list of television roles earned her 8 Emmys among 22 nominations, making her the most awarded actress in Emmy history (along with Julia Louis-Dreyfus). Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones during this difficult time.

Just because stores temporarily close and plans are postponed, doesn't mean your grief takes a break too. Grief doesn't wait. The death of a loved one brings enormous challenges. It's important to express and share your grief with others, even if the funeral is postponed or cancelled.

On this day in 1948 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations in Paris, France. Today we continue securing human rights for all people on World Human Rights Day.