Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes & Cremation Center

Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes & Cremation Center A family owned and operated full service funeral home serving families since 1884.

08/27/2025

View David Richard Sczepanski Sr.'s obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

08/27/2025

View Michele Lee Channell's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

08/26/2025

View Ruby Anne Dees's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

08/22/2025

View James Elton Anthony's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

08/22/2025

View Sally Joan Zaccagnino's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

08/22/2025

View James Andrew Ward's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

08/20/2025

View Leland Jennings's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

08/19/2025

View Harvey Leroy Brandt's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

08/15/2025

Do you struggle with what to say when someone dies? We have all heard the common phrases and maybe we have even said them to someone before. It’s a natural desire to offer words of comfort to someone grieving, but most of us struggle because no such words exist, and with only the best intentions, we can say the wrong thing, like:

They’re in a better place.
Even if they believe that to be true, it doesn’t change the fact that they still likely want their loved one to be here with them. Using clichés can feel dismissive and make grievers feel like their pain and loss is not significant.

Everything happens for a reason.
Rationalizing or trying to explain the loss is just not helpful. No matter how or why someone has died, their physical presence is gone, and that just hurts.

Just be grateful for the time you had.
Grievers don’t need to be reminded to be grateful. They are. And they are also sad. It’s not an either/or situation – grief and gratitude can (and do) live in the same breath and beat in the same heart.

Don’t cry. They wouldn’t want you to be sad.
People uncomfortable with their emotions will often say this to others suffering. Tears are memories in motion!! Crying is ok. Let grievers feel safe to express themselves through their tears.

Maybe it’s time to move on.
A griever can feel estranged when told to “move on,” and the reality of their pain and loss is diminished. Grief has no timeline and no expiry date. Grieving is internal work and a process – a journey we all take and travel in our own time. When it comes to grief, there is no right or wrong. Your grief is your grief.

God doesn’t give you what you can’t handle.
This statement can evoke feelings of guilt and not “doing grief properly.” It can make the griever feel “less than” or unaccomplished and is just not generally a very helpful thing to say.

I know exactly how you feel.
No, actually, you don’t. Even if you’re siblings with the same parent, you don’t know how the others feel when Dad dies. Maybe you experienced a loss of a parent, but you can never throw all emotions into one pile and relate to everyone. We all process loss in different ways based on our relationship with the person who is now gone.

WHAT TO SAY INSTEAD:
Ultimately, simply being there to witness grief and hold space for emotions is enough, but here are a few suggestions if you need to say something.

Tell me about your loved one. What did you love and miss the most?
It can be difficult to ask someone to talk about their loved ones because we worry about upsetting them, causing them to cry or become emotional. But remember that even if they don’t show it outwardly, they are feeling all the feels internally. Providing them with a safe and comfortable space to share stories or memories can be incredibly helpful.

You don’t have to pretend to be ok. I am comfortable with your tears and grief.
In 1993 my youngest son Jamieson was born missing most of his left arm and hand. I grieved terribly for that part of him that never grew and the hand I would never hold in mine. But I suffered quietly and alone for fear of making others uncomfortable, looking weak or ungrateful for the beautiful, healthy baby I had brought into the world. One night while visiting a friend, I quickly wiped a tear away when she sat beside me, put her arms around me and told me that I could cry and that I should cry and that I deserved to cry. I have always been grateful for that incredibly healing moment and the gift of permission to express my grief openly.

I’m so sorry you’re in pain. Do you want to talk about it?
Creating a safe and supportive environment for grievers to express their pain openly can be incredibly helpful. Witnessing their grief can increase their sense of being seen and understood, which can be a powerful and healing experience.

I am often up late, so please call me if you can’t sleep.
That little bit of extra information about being up late (or waking up early) may be the difference between someone suffering all night/early morning alone or having someone there to listen.

It’s ok not to feel ok right now.
Grief is not a problem to be solved. It’s a feeling to be felt. The only way to get through grief is to allow space to grieve.

Remember the time when…?
Letting someone know that you remember their loved one and opening the door for stories and memories to be shared is incredibly helpful.

I cannot take away your grief, but I can support you while you learn to carry it.
Grief is a life-changing experience that cannot simply be “gotten over.” It changes our lives forever, and it takes time to adjust to life without someone and learn to cope and carry the immense weight of grief. We don’t need solutions to take grief away; we need time and space to learn to live (well) with it.

And finally…
Remember that people who are grieving often don’t know what they need, and constantly being asked, “What can I do for you?” can become a burden. Sometimes saying nothing but doing something is most helpful. Offer a hug, mow the lawn, deliver a meal, and hold space for grief and love.

Some of these "gems of advice" are from an article written by Linda Stuart, a Life-Cycle Celebrant, Writer and Speaker.

07/31/2025

View Thomas Christopher Smith's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

07/31/2025

View Catherine Sidney "Cathy" Coop Longoria's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

07/31/2025

View Helen Szer's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

Address

18020 US Highway 64
Somerville, TN
38068

Telephone

+19014653535

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes & Cremation Center posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Our Story

Year after year...in fact, for one hundred and thirty-six years, our family-owned funeral home has been privileged to serve our community in their time of loss.

Being family owned may not be important in all businesses, but when death occurs in your family, you want to know there are people who care. Not all funeral homes today are family owned. That's why we felt it important to tell you that we still are. When your family faces a crisis, we are here for you. Our staff is qualified by training, education and experience to care for your needs and provide you with the one-on-one assistance you deserve.

WE HONOR ALL BURIAL POLICIES AND PREARRANGED FUNERAL PLANS