A Death in the Family

Many of us have experienced the death of a close§family member--all of us know someone who has. What§happens to the family communication afterward? Dr.§Rebecca Hosmer, a specialist in the field of family§communication, presents her findings from a wide-§ranging survey of people who have lost family§members. In this book, sisters, brothers, mothers,§fathers, and children share about losing a loved one.§Some families do not discuss the person who died: It s changed totally since the death of my brother,§we never mention stories about him, or stories that§involve him... (a 21-year-old male, brother died 4§years ago). Other families react quite differently: My dad has become more outgoing in his§relationships with his daughters. I Love You is§part of his everyday language now... (53-year-old§female, mother died 17 years ago). Hosmer examines§the themes that emerged and reveals the variety of§family communication patterns that develop, both§within and outside the family, after losing a loved§one. No two families are alike, and understanding the§multiple ways that families communicatively cope§after the death of a family member is critical. Many of us have experienced the death of a close§family member--all of us know someone who has. What§happens to the family communication afterward? Dr.§Rebecca Hosmer, a specialist in the field of family§communication, presents her findings from a wide-§ranging survey of people who have lost family§members. In this book, sisters, brothers, mothers,§fathers, and children share about losing a loved one.§Some families do not discuss the person who died: It s changed totally since the death of my brother,§we never mention stories about him, or stories that§involve him... (a 21-year-old male, brother died 4§years ago). Other families react quite differently: My dad has become more outgoing in his§relationships with his daughters. I Love You is§part of his everyday language now... (53-year-old§female, mother died 17 years ago). Hosmer examines§the themes that emerged and reveals the variety of§family communication patterns that develop, both§within and outside the family, after losing a loved§one. No two families are alike, and understanding the§multiple ways that families communicatively cope§after the death of a family member is critical.