Navigating holiday grief: Finding support after loss

JOPLIN, Mo. — Being with friends and family is one of the best things about the holiday season.

But what do you do if someone very close to you won't ever be part of the celebration?

"I gave myself grace that if I didn't want to put up my Christmas tree, I didn't put up my Christmas tree, and that's ok, this year is completely different," said Cavanagh Studyvin, grief survivor.

Cavanagh and Erick Studyvin knew each other as far back as seventh grade, and eventually got married. But tragedy struck in her life when her best friend died unexpectedly in 2023.

"I'm now in my second round of holidays," said Studyvin.

With so much emphasis on family this time of year, Dr. Karl Wendt says it's best to acknowledge in some way that a loved one is no longer with us.

"Give yourself permission for it to be hard, it's just going to be difficult, the first year, the first holiday time without your loved one is just a very, very, difficult time, and that's actually healthy, it's hard, but it's healthy," said Dr. Karl Wendt, director, Mt. Hope Christian Counseling Center.

Studyvin says she can't imagine how hard the holidays would be without the love and support of family and friends.

"I wanted to do a little bit more but I babystepped myself into it, and I tried to surround myself with his family with my friends with my family and trying to have a normal Christmas when it's not normal," said Studyvin.

"I think it's smart to do something to celebrate the person who is gone, maybe a special ornament on the tree, maybe a toast with your closest family or friends, something that celebrates maybe remembering a moment with them at a holiday season, there's something really beautiful and special about that," said Wendt.