Briefly describe a loss experience of one person you had contact with. Reflect on this event and discuss what you noticed about it. For example, you might want to include information such as:
Was it a primary or secondary loss?
If it was a primary loss, what secondary loss accompanied it?
Was it sudden and unexpected? Anticipated? Traumatic?
Was the individual's grief acknowledged and supported by others or disenfranchised?
Use references to support your reflections. (1250 words. 20 marks.)
The death of my paternal grandfather had deeply affected us as a family extensively. My father is the second son of the second marriage and number four son in seven sons. My grandfather was a very hard working man and at the time of his death …show more content…
Social mourning is traditional in the Tongan culture and family, relatives and friends come from afar to mourn the passing of a loved one. It is not heard of to mourn privately and thought as unhealthy contrary to what I have learnt thus far (Walter, 2007). My grandfather had been a primary loss to both his family both immediate and extended, our village and church (DeSpelder&Strickland, 2011). The grieving process in the Tongan traditional way starts with family prayers every evening since the day of passing until a date has been set for the wake. These family prayers include everyone whom is known to deceased or the family of the deceased and is followed by a supper of sorts where the family prepares food and gives out to those whom attended the prayers. The church or several church of the village will come to perform their own service every evening. A typical prayer or failotu as its called comprises of three to four churches doing a mini service followed by a feed. The ladies of the families then talk deep into the night remembering their loved one. It is tradition to sleep by the refrigerator that holds the dead. Rental ones are hired out to the house of the deceased and used for the period of time before the wake. There are specialised roles of each and every individual of the family that must be carried out. It is believed that helps us complete our grieving process. That if unfulfilled we would never fully …show more content…
However, there was much support as is expected from a tiny tight-nit community of the Tongan culture and society. The secondary losses that come along with my grandfather's death is still experienced today as the family are fighting over the small fortune and social standing that my grandfather has left vacant. His leadership roles in the community and church are mighty big shoes to be filled in and are yet to be filled still. His heir, my father's elder brother had passed a year after my grandfather and further aided the current bad blood. The family is now is lost over power and