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Melyssa Williams

Melyssa Williams is the author of four novels and a collection of short stories. An accomplished professional writer, having been on staff for magazines and online publications such as Mary Jane's Farm, Home Educating Family, and All Gifts Considered, Melyssa is known for being able to write about even the most traumatic and serious topics with sensitive humor and wit. Melyssa resides in Southern Oregon with her husband, kids, and her noble sausage dog, Tripp. Learn more (and read more of her work) at MelyssaWilliams.com.

Latest from Melyssa Williams

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Remembrance Gifts: 75 Creative “In Memory Of” Gift Ideas

When it comes to life, we all have one thing in common: we all leave this world eventually, and hopefully we’ve left it a little better than we found it. At least that’s our wish. 

Oftentimes, talking about death — at least in America — is somewhat taboo. This makes it even harder to know how and when and where to grieve even though death is something we all must grapple with.

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35 Best Military Memorial Gifts to Honor Fallen Soldiers

When your loved one gives his or her all to keep us safe and protect their beloved country’s freedom, it won’t do to create just any old memorial, or give the standard sympathy gift.

You want something that will last. Something personal, which reflects their individuality, temperament, and charisma. The best military memorial gift will bring their memory to mind each time that loved ones see it.

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30 Best Instrumental Funeral Songs

When planning a loved one’s funeral (or even your own), leaving the music to the last minute is no way to pay your full respects.

Music is a balm for the soul and soothes even the unhappiest of hearts, so it’s important to choose the best songs for the funeral.

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How to Write a Tribute to a Brother Who Passed Away

Today we’re going to take a look at how to write a tribute to a brother who passed away.

The loss of a brother can be so incredibly hard, and writing a tribute for him can seem like a huge challenge. 

No one else shared your childhood memories the way he did, and no one better deserves a heartfelt eulogy or tribute reflective of all the great things he accomplished in his life. But when it comes time to honor your dear brother, it can be difficult to know what to say. 

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30 Best Sympathy Gifts For Someone Who Lost A Parent

Sometimes a card just isn’t enough, and a well thought-out gift is a must. But when someone you know and love is struggling with grief, it can be hard to know what to reach for.  Flowers? Seems too obvious and generic. A gift card? Not very personal. That’s precisely why we’ve compiled this list of gifts for someone who lost a parent.

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101 Loss of Daughter Quotes for Remembrance & Comfort

Losing a daughter — no matter their age — is one of the worst pains imaginable. And yet, very sadly, it does still happen. 

When this type of pain is experienced by your friend or loved one, it’s so difficult not knowing what to say to help ease their burden. Or perhaps you are experiencing this pain yourself and you’re looking for some meaningful quotes to soothe your own heart. 

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23 Best Rock Songs for Funerals

If your loved one was a classic rock enthusiast, choosing the best rock songs for their funeral will take something of a deft touch.

Other styles of music are easy. Some people love the classical beauty of Bach and Mozart, while others are going to turn to religious songs and hymns. Still others will prefer to hear one of their loved one’s favorite pop and country standards.

Among all these styles, there are plenty of songs that are perfectly suited for the funeral or memorial service.

But for the rock ‘n roll fan? You want to select songs that represent them well, but at the same time you don’t necessarily want the music choices to come off as tactless or as a joke.

That’s why we’ve curated the 23 best rock songs for funerals. Each track has lyrics suitable to remember and memorialize your loved one, and many are rock ballads that feel right for a celebration of life.

And, most importantly, they all rock.

When you choose one of these classic rock songs for your loved one’s funeral, you know that somewhere your special someone is rocking out and watching with approval. 

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21 Best Fishing Memorial Gifts & Tributes

Let’s talk about fishing memorial gifts and tributes that actually mean something.

The one good thing about fishermen and women and their one-track obsession – um, we mean hobby – is that they are easy to shop for! Everything and anything with a fish on it just calls their name. 

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50 Meaningful Sympathy Messages for Coworkers

Imagine that one of the people you love the most on this earth has died.

It could be a spouse, a child, a parent, a sibling. When someone like that passes away, it rocks you to your core.

Then imagine going back to work. Even if you were given a few weeks, even a month, to mourn, going back to work feels weird. It’s as if you’re pretending everything is normal when in fact your world has exploded. Life goes on, work goes on, and everyone around you is so… normal. As if your loved one had no impact on the world. It just seems off.

That’s what your colleague is feeling right about now.

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21 Best Modern Funeral Songs

Modern funeral songs – sounds like any oxymoron, right? Most people think of funerals as traditional affairs, full of dreary and dull music played at a plodding tempo.

But in these modern times the trend has been towards updating and personalizing the memorial service. Even the name of the service has changed to be more positive – nowadays, most people call it a “Celebration of Life.”

The aim is to make it as individual and unique as your loved one was, and that includes the song selection.

After all, not everyone one who passes would leave instructions to play Bach, Mozart, or Beethoven at their funeral. Some would prefer pop music – and that’s ok!

For those who adore all things modern and trendy, up-to-date and on-the-money, we’ve curated 21 wonderfully fitting modern songs to play at the funeral. Drop a beat and make your guests nod, sway, and smile through their tears.

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21 Best Butterfly Memorial Gifts for Sympathy & Comfort

Symbolizing both the fragility and the strength of life, butterflies remind us of transformation and flight through struggles.

Spirituality, the butterfly is a metaphor of hope. The slow, colorless caterpillar is shrouded in death only to emerge beautiful, graceful, and with wings that cause it to soar. 

Those are just a few reasons why a butterfly-themed memorial is such a thoughtful gift for someone who is grieving. They need comfort and support. Here are 21 pretty gifts that feature our favorite winged friend: the butterfly. 

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21 Best Christian Funeral Songs

It’s important to think of music as one of the first things to set aside for you or your loved one’s funeral. Songs really speak to the soul in ways that eulogies and slide shows can’t even touch.

Having your songs carefully selected ahead of time is a must. And when you’re a believer, selecting the just-right Christian funeral songs is even more important. Here are 21 wonderful ideas for your consideration.

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