Many books touch upon the subject of grief, but none so comprehensively as Mary’s latest work.  As Editor of the award-winning National Directory of Bereavement Support Groups and Services, she reviewed hundreds of bereavement books from other publishers who wished to gain entry into the directory’s bibliography section.  Through this task, she saw very clearly what was missing – one book on bereavement which would serve all grieving individuals at the onset of their journey.

What makes this book superior to others is that

1. it focuses entirely on the process of grieving the death of a loved one, while other ‘grief’ books include divorce, job transition, relocation, etc. which are insulting to an individual dealing with the ultimate loss.
2. it contains a list of over 175 recommended bereavement books, categorized by need, all reviewed by the author.
3. it contains a comprehensive list of national bereavement organizations to offer support to bereaved families.
4. it is not a textbook written to explain the theory behind all types of death losses.  Bereaved persons gain little from textbooks because they discuss every type of death, i.e. suicide, homicide, death of an infant, etc. 
5. it is not a personal narrative describing one person’s experience.
6. it is not a ‘few lines per page’ type book which leaves the reader wanting more.
7. it is intentionally only 128 easy-reading pages with short paragraphs.  Bereaved persons find it difficult to focus and cannot tackle reading 200-page books.

It is, instead, a book written specifically to fulfill a great need within the bereavement community.  It supplies a loving, informative guide which walks the hurting person through the various challenges they may encounter so they will not be so overwhelmed when they have many of these experiences.  And it is written by a woman who has been involved in the bereavement field for over 25 years and has personally experienced great tragedy as well.

Table of Contents

1. Myths Behind the Grieving Process
2. Stages of Grief
3. Manifestations of Grief
a. Emotional Challenges
b. Physical Challenges
c. Social Challenges
d. Intellectual Challenges
e. Spiritual Challenges
f. Financial Challenges
4. Effects of Grief on Marriage
5. Effects of Grief on Children
6. Relationships with Family, Friends, and Business Colleagues
7. Holidays, Anniversaries, and Special Occasions
8. Honoring Your Loved One
9. A Final Note
10. Where to Find Help:  Organizations for Those Grieving A Loved One’s Death (a comprehensive list of national bereavement organizations)
11. Selected Bibliography (over 175 books on the grieving process, all reviewed by the author and categorized by need)
12. Index

128 pages – December, 2001
ISBN:  0-9645608-4-4

Praise for Understanding Your Grieving Heart

“After debunking myths about the grieving process, e.g. that it lasts only a few months, Mary M. Wong (editor, The National Directory of Bereavement Support Groups and Services) traces the stages of grief (shock, denial, despair, renewal), manifestations (e.g. regrets, depression, anger, workaholism) and effects on marriage, children, friendship and work relationships in Understanding Your Grieving Heart After a Loved One’s Death. Even if we’ve seen others mourn a loss, says Mary, we may be taken by surprise at our responses to the death of an intimate, particularly the sense of being out of control that often accompanies bereavement.  Grieving readers will appreciate this warm, wise guide by an experienced bereavement counselor and crime victims’ rights advocate.”

Publisher’s Weekly, November 26, 2001

“Understanding Your Grieving Heart After a Loved One’s Death is an invaluable guidebook on how to offer comfort to the bereaved.  Mary touches on every aspect of the aftermath of loss, from dispelling myths surrounding the grieving process to how to deal with anger and stress, to how to handle the belongings of a lost loved one and how to help one’s children through the grieving process.  Wong has also reviewed over 175 other books on the grieving process and categorized them by need in this clear, simple, helpful, and solace-filled reference.  Understanding Your Grieving Heart After a Loved One’s Death is very highly recommended for personal, professional, and community library and grief counseling collections.”

Midwest Book Review, December, 2001

“Very well done – informative, supportive.  I highly recommend this book to all survivors and especially to those dedicated professionals in this field.”

M. Regina Asaro, M.S., R.N.
Psychiatric Nurse/Consultant
Co-Facilitator – Homicide Support Groups

“When we lose a loved one, we are in a wave of confusion and find it hard to deal with the new me – the person who has been changed unlike ever before because of death.  We daily face new emotions, new kinks in our relationships and old myths that need to be discarded.  How do we do it all?  Author and Counselor, Mary M. McCambridge (Wong), shows us how to understand what is happening to our lives in our raw bereavement in her newest book, Understanding Your Grieving Heart After a Loved One’s Death.  This book is a practical guide to living life after the unthinkable death of a loved one has happened to us.  Mary has the gift to hold our hand and tenderly show us how.”

Alice J. Wisler, Editor
Tributes E-Zine Book Review, April, 2002

This sensitive, yet practical book goes some way to answering the many agonising questions posed by the bereft and suggests many strategies that may bring comfort during the grieving process.

Mary is an American bereavement specialist who has written several books on the many aspects of death and loss.  She is quick to point out the 'uniqueness' of grief to each individual so affected and stresses that there is no normal time span and no set time frame for recovery.

She goes into the well-documented stages of grief - shock, denial, despair, renewal, etc. - with great insight and compassion, yet always bringing some positive ideas to help during these stages.

The chapter on children's grief is especially illuminating, as is the section dealing with those agonising anniversaries of Christmas, Birthdays, etc.  She discusses the effects of grief on marriage and also how financial worries need to be addressed during mourning.  Mary ventures into the spiritual area of sorrow and speaks most movingly of how we try to make "bargains" with God.

This book has a comprehensive section on  where to find help, which refers to the USA.  However, I feel that similar institutions do exist in the UK and the book list is also very extensive.

In conclusion, I feel that this is a useful and thoughtful book with a great deal of genuine understanding of grief and much compassion for those who grieve.

E.B. Daniels
The Compassionate Friends/United Kingdom