If Not Me, Who?

In this update, John Cooley make an impassioned plea to members of the law enforcement community not to make any assumptions about who is providing care to those in grief.

If Not Me, Who?John Cooley

During my 10 years as an agency funeral coordinator and during my years putting on seminars, I have always practiced or advocated one simple principle, “If not me, who?” There are often so many opportunities for a funeral coordinator to interact with the surviving family members, agency members, and agency member’s families, and do more than give them advice. It is so easy to provide lip service when we really should be providing service.

Here are some examples:

At my first few funerals I met with the family members and realized that they should probably get some books or information on grieving and bereavement and funeral planning to help them through these tragic times. But I didn’t know what to suggest and I didn’t ask anyone for assistance. I just thought that someone else should do it, I was busy.

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