OMA 2019 Annual Meeting News!

Grief Experts Jessica Thomas and Joanne Smith Petrie (left)
OMA Board Treasurer Liz Jessop (Right)

2019 Annual Meeting.pdf
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Serving Oregonians since 1961...
On September 21st, OMA hosted its 58th Annual Meeting.

​Information about OMA's recent Organizational consolidation, All's Well that Ends Well advocacy, and changes in the Funeral Industry were discussed, as well as sharing and dialogue with members on the topic of Grief. Two outstanding speakers opened the discussion with brief presentations that were filled with information and wisdom. Here are a few highlights:

There are feelings and behaviors that are natural in the grieving process. Some of them are unexpected and uncomfortable and may surface immediately or during the months that follow a loved one's death.   Here are a few examples from Chaplain, Bereavement Facilitator, Author, and Founding Director of One to Another, Joanne Petrie:

​•  Feeling emotionally numb  
•  Feeling exhausted, lacking energy  
•  feeling a lack of enjoyment  in everyday activities  
•  Not wanting to be with people or having difficulty connecting...
    
There are many more signs, of course, that we are navigating stages of grief, and there are strategies to help embrace the enormity of change and loss we experience.  Jessica Thomas, PHD  in Psychology and LMFT is a trained clinical supervisor and organizational consultant specializing in death, dying and grief.

Jessica shared insights on a deepening of awareness that death of a loved one can foster and how we can be Inspired by Impermanence.   She reminded us that the letting-go process can also guide us to states of fearlessness, peace, discernment, gratitude, joyfulness, love, compassion, passion and inspiration. She asked us to consider that honoring our loss can be a path to healing. And she reminded us that we can always:

​ACCEPT THE INVITATION TO OPEN OUR HEARTS TO THE GRIEVING PROCESS.