NH Business Review
Pandemic complicates the grieving process
For people who have lost loved ones, the disruption of rituals around mourning can have a lasting impact
March 5, 2021
After 16-month-old Clyde Austin died unexpectedly at home in October his parents opted for an outdoor celebration of life at Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, a place the family had enjoyed visiting together. (Courtesy photo).
Victoria Austin and her husband Brent were on their screened-in porch, having a nightmare conversation. Their son, Clyde, died unexpectedly at home at just 16 months. Because of the pandemic, they couldn’t talk about arrangements in the warmth of their Derry home, so to keep everyone safe they were meeting with a funeral home director in the cool October breeze.
Pandemic complicates grieving process
Victoria Austin with her children, Clyde, 1 and Abigail, 3, during a trip to Odiorne Point State Park in the summer of 2020, before Clyde’s death. Courtesy
After 16-month-old Clyde Austin died unexpectedly at home in October his parents opted for an outdoor celebration of life at Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, a place the family had enjoyed visiting together. Courtesy The Austin family visit a frigid Odiorne Point State Park prior to Clyde’s death. They decided to hold a celebration of life ceremony there instead of an indoor funeral with pandemic restrictions. Courtesy
Published: 3/5/2021 4:33:22 PM