An independent Stroud funeral director who provides funeral services throughout Gloucestershire and Wiltshire is urging local crematoria to install online filming and recording facilities in their chapels to enable family members, who cannot attend, the chance to pay their respects.

The system involves a small camera at the back of the chapel, linked to the internet so it streams the proceedings live online. The ‘livetime’ funeral can also be recorded onto a DVD as a permanent record of the event.

The innovative step is the brainchild of James Showers, of Family Tree Funeral Company, who said: “With families increasingly scattered, separated by distance, by busy schedules or just the sheer inability to travel, such as our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, this technology makes it possible to gather scattered mourners into one community and enable them to attend.”

The idea has so far received positive reactions and pioneer James continues: “I believe we have a duty to identify and embrace new ideas if they serve a family looking to give their loved-one a more personal and meaningful farewell.”

The service which would bring funeral arrangements in to the 21^st Century would cost around £50 and security of online viewing would be kept completely in the hands of the family concerned as they would be provided with passwords to access the funeral from their computers.

Crematoria who have been contacted so far include: Westerleigh Crematorium,Yew Tree Brake in the Forest of Dean, Kingsdown Crematorium in Swindon, Gloucester Crematorium, and Cheltenham. Of these, only Westerleigh has the Wesley Music System, upon whose technology the live streaming of funerals across the worldwide web depends.

James concludes: “While funeral professionals are a pretty conservative lot, I believe we’d all agree we should do our best not to leave anyone out if the technology is there to include them.”

About: James Showers is the owner of Family Tree Funeral Company, who provide funeral assistance throughout Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. You can visit their website at www.FamilyTreeFunerals.co.uk.

New York, New York and San Francisco, California ( Prfriend ) Oct. 30th 2009, 11 am Pacific/2 pm Eastern time Dr. Jane Bissler teaches her clients how to feel connected to their loved ones and shows them how connecting can be a healing experience. Dr. Bissler is the Co-author of “Loving Connections: The Healing Power of After Death Communications.”

About Dr. Heidi Horsley

Dr. Heidi Horsley, PsyD, LMSW, MS, is a bereaved sibling and a licensed psychologist and social worker.  Dr. Heidi is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Open to Hope Foundation and an adjunct professor at Columbia University.  She has a private practice in Manhattan, NY specializing in grief and loss.  She is also author of “Teen Grief Relief” and “Real Men Do Cry”. She holds graduate degrees from the University of San Francisco, Columbia University, and Loyola University.

About Dr. Gloria Horsley

Dr. Gloria C. Horsley, PHD, MFT, CNS, is a bereaved parent, and has worked in the field of family therapy for over twenty years. Dr. Gloria is Founder and President of the Open to Hope Foundation.  She serves The Compassionate Friends in a number of roles, including as a Board Director and frequently serves as a media spokesperson in her dual role as a bereaved parent and professional. She is co-author of “Teen Grief Relief” and “Real Men Do Cry.” She holds graduate degrees from the University of Rochester, Syracuse, Greenwich and Holos Universities.

Dr. Heidi Horsley
37 West 72nd Street, Suite 1E
NY NY 10023
(646) 269-1664

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New York, New York and San Francisco, California ( Prfriend ) Oct. 22nd 2009,11 am Pacific/2 pm Eastern time -Lyn Prashant is a therapist who gained an intimate knowledge of grief-related issues while caring for her dying husband.  As a result of this experience Lyn started a process she calls Degriefing which is a holistic approach to healing grief-related pain.

About Dr. Heidi Horsley

Dr. Heidi Horsley, PsyD, LMSW, MS, is a bereaved sibling and a licensed psychologist and social worker.  Dr. Heidi is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Open to Hope Foundation and an adjunct professor at Columbia University.  She has a private practice in Manhattan, NY specializing in grief and loss.  She is also author of “Teen Grief Relief” and “Real Men Do Cry”. She holds graduate degrees from the University of San Francisco, Columbia University, and Loyola University.

About Dr. Gloria Horsley

Dr. Gloria C. Horsley, PHD, MFT, CNS, is a bereaved parent, and has worked in the field of family therapy for over twenty years. Dr. Gloria is Founder and President of the Open to Hope Foundation.  She serves The Compassionate Friends in a number of roles, including as a Board Director and frequently serves as a media spokesperson in her dual role as a bereaved parent and professional. She is co-author of “Teen Grief Relief” and “Real Men Do Cry.” She holds graduate degrees from the University of Rochester, Syracuse, Greenwich and Holos Universities.

Dr. Heidi Horsley
37 West 72nd Street, Suite 1E
NY NY 10023
(646) 269-1664

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New York, New York and San Francisco, California ( Prfriend ) Oct. 22nd 2009, 11 am Pacific/2 pm Eastern time -Paul Bennett is the author of the new book, Loving Grief.  In 35 years as a freelance writer, Paul helped shape American society, drawing hundreds of millions of dollars into environmental and public-interest organizations. Since the death of his wife, Bonnie, he has written eloquently about loss and spiritual growth.

About Dr. Heidi Horsley

Dr. Heidi Horsley, PsyD, LMSW, MS, is a bereaved sibling and a licensed psychologist and social worker.  Dr. Heidi is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Open to Hope Foundation and an adjunct professor at Columbia University.  She has a private practice in Manhattan, NY specializing in grief and loss.  She is also author of “Teen Grief Relief” and “Real Men Do Cry”. She holds graduate degrees from the University of San Francisco, Columbia University, and Loyola University.

About Dr. Gloria Horsley

Dr. Gloria C. Horsley, PHD, MFT, CNS, is a bereaved parent, and has worked in the field of family therapy for over twenty years. Dr. Gloria is Founder and President of the Open to Hope Foundation.  She serves The Compassionate Friends in a number of roles, including as a Board Director and frequently serves as a media spokesperson in her dual role as a bereaved parent and professional. She is co-author of “Teen Grief Relief” and “Real Men Do Cry.” She holds graduate degrees from the University of Rochester, Syracuse, Greenwich and Holos Universities.

Dr. Heidi Horsley
37 West 72nd Street, Suite 1E
NY NY 10023
(646) 269-1664

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New York, New York and San Francisco, California ( Prfriend ) Oct. 19th 2009 -Dr. Bernie Siegel is a world renowned physician and leader in the field of health and healing, who has written numerous groundbreaking books. His latest book Buddy’s Candle is a great healing aid for grieving children dealing with the loss of a loved one.  It takes the reader on a journey through life and death with the promise of forever. Bernie continues to assist in the breaking of new ground in the field of healing and personally struggling to live the message of kindness and love.

The Open to Hope show broadcasts every Monday at 11 am Pacific Standard Time and 2 pm Eastern Time on the CBS radio live streaming, Chat About it station.

About Dr. Heidi Horsley

Dr. Heidi Horsley, PsyD, LMSW, MS, is a bereaved sibling and a licensed psychologist and social worker.  Dr. Heidi is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Open to Hope Foundation and an adjunct professor at Columbia University.  She has a private practice in Manhattan, NY specializing in grief and loss.  She is also author of “Teen Grief Relief” and “Real Men Do Cry”. She holds graduate degrees from the University of San Francisco, Columbia University, and Loyola University.

About Dr. Gloria Horsley

Dr. Gloria C. Horsley, PHD, MFT, CNS, is a bereaved parent, and has worked in the field of family therapy for over twenty years. Dr. Gloria is Founder and President of the Open to Hope Foundation.  She serves The Compassionate Friends in a number of roles, including as a Board Director and frequently serves as a media spokesperson in her dual role as a bereaved parent and professional. She is co-author of “Teen Grief Relief” and “Real Men Do Cry.” She holds graduate degrees from the University of Rochester, Syracuse, Greenwich and Holos Universities.

Dr. Heidi Horsley
37 West 72nd Street, Suite 1E
NY NY 10023
(646) 269-1664

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New York, New York and San Francisco, California ( Prfriend ) Sept. 24th 2009 -Gloria Arenson has helped thousands of people in her psychotherapy practice to observe their behaviors without judgment and to discard those behaviors that no longer benefit them.  She is the author of Emotional Freedom: Techniques for Procrastination

Healing the Grieving Heart broadcasts every Thursday at 9 AM Pacific Standard Time/ 12 Noon Eastern Time on The VoiceAmerica Health & Wellness Network.

If you miss this show, go to www.thegriefblog.com and click on archived shows to listen.

About Dr. Heidi Horsley

Dr. Heidi Horsley, PsyD, MSW, MS, is a bereaved sibling and a licensed psychologist and social worker.  Dr. Heidi is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Open to Hope Foundation and an adjunct professor at Columbia University.  She has a private practice in Manhattan, NY specializing in grief and loss.  She is also author of “Teen Grief Relief” and “Real Men Do Cry”. She holds graduate degrees from the University of San Francisco, Columbia University, and Loyola University.

About Dr. Gloria Horsley

Dr. Gloria C. Horsley, PHD, MFT, CNS, is a bereaved parent, and has worked in the field of family therapy for over twenty years. Dr. Gloria is Founder and President of the Open to Hope Foundation.  She serves The Compassionate Friends as a Board Member.  She is co-author of “Teen Grief Relief” and “Real Men Do Cry.” She holds graduate degrees from the University of Rochester, Syracuse, Greenwich and Holos Universities.

Dr. Heidi Horsley
37 West 72nd Street, Suite 1E
NY NY 10023
(646) 269-1664

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New York, New York, San Francisco, California (  ) March 19th 2009 -The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is an organization with over 150,000 members.  In an effort to recruit more social workers to the profession, 50 social workers from around the country were selected to be profiled and show the ways that they are giving back to the community http://50ways.socialworkblog.org/.  We at the Open to Hope Foundation, are thrilled to have Dr. Heidi Horsley as one of those profiled on this website, and know she will do an outstanding job representing the social work profession.  “I am honored to be profiled on the NASW website because I know that social workers change individuals’ lives in profound ways and have a lasting impact on their futures, commented Dr. Heidi Horsley.”

Dr. Heidi Horsley, has devoted her life to giving back to the community at large, and making a difference in people’s lives.  She serves as Executive Director of the Open to Hope Foundation and describes the foundation as a comprehensive online internet community, whose mission is helping those who have suffered a loss to cope with their pain and find hope for the future.    The foundation honors this mission by providing nearly 150 contributing authors and 15 blogs that address a variety of topics dealing with grief, loss, hope and healing.  In addition the foundation is affiliated with the radio show “Healing the Grieving Heart” which Dr. Heidi Horsley hosts.  The radio show offers numerous resources and links to grief resources and bereavement organizations throughout the world.

As Dr. Heidi Horsley explains, “we don’t want others to feel alone, we’ve been there and made it and so can you.”  One of the biggest challenges Dr. Heidi Horsley addresses in both private counseling and with listeners on her radio show is how to help individuals heal and find hope again after a profound loss.  I have seen both personally and professionally the power that online support communities play in helping people cope, heal and find hope again despite great loss and adversity.  Dr. Heidi Horsley is herself a bereaved sibling who feels that she would have benefited from a virtual online community, such as the Open to Hope Foundation after her 17 year old brother Scott and cousin Matthew died together in an automobile accident.

Currently she is an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University School of Social Work.  Since 2002 she has worked in a research and clinical capacity for the FDNY/Columbia University Family Guidance Program; providing ongoing intervention to families of firefighters killed in the World Trade Center. She has also conducted workshops for 9/11 bereaved siblings.  Dr. Horsley has appeared on ABC’s 20/20, been quoted in the Washington Post & the New York Daily News, and has been interviewed on numerous radio shows.  She has written numerous articles and is co-author of Real Men Do Cry: A Quarterback’s Inspiring Story of Tackling Depression and Surviving Suicide Loss, and Teen Grief Relief: Parenting with Understanding Support and Guidance.   Dr. Horsley gives presentations and workshops throughout the country, and teaches continuing education workshops for health care professionals on the psychological treatment of loss.

Dr. Heidi Horsley
37 West 72nd Street, Suite 1E
NY NY 10023
(646) 269-1662

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