Finding meaning in the bureaucracy of bereavement

Bereaved people find themselves with a long list of things to organise including legal recognition of the death, arranging for the disposal of body of the person who has died and dealing with their money and other affairs. There appears to be minimal research or attention given to these areas in bereavement literature, but they are a universal experience for the people most closely related to the deceased. This article by Anne Wadey of the Bereavement Advice Centre seeks to identify and understand the meaning of these tasks - frequently regarded as onerous - based on the author's own experience of providing information, advice and signposting to bereaved people over a period of 20 years. Her contention is that better communication of the purpose behind administrative tasks can not only result in a better service, but also help bereaved people to find some meaning in the bureaucracy of death. © 2013 Copyright Cruse Bereavement Care.