Grief is a natural, though painful, part of healing after the loss of a loved one. Mourning, the rituals and actions specific to an individual’s religion and culture that express grief and loss, can be a part of the grieving process. Grieving is a process that lasts beyond the funeral of a loved one: it is the process of emotionally responding to a loss and learning how to cope with that loss. Coping with the loss of a close friend or relative means expressing pain and grief, receiving support and love, and learning to live again in a healthy manner.
The above text is from an article on counseling found here: web-site, MetaLine.com
and it was shared with me from a very sensitve school in our nation's capital region, the Monument Charter School. Thanks to them.