Erickson Funeral Home

01/12/2026

I recently rediscovered the joy of handwritten letters, and it's like I've been reminded of a forgotten language. In a world where everything's speeding by, a handwritten letter is a sweet rebellion 🤘. It's like saying, 'Hey, I took the time to slow down, just for you 😊.' Each stroke of the pen feels like a whisper of love and care, a reminder that you're worth the extra effort. A dear friend recently relocated, and her letters have been a beautiful reminder of the power of putting pen to paper 📨. Plus, they're therapeutic to write and make a tangible keepsake 💕. With Valentine's Day around the corner, why not spread love with a heartfelt letter to an elderly relative or a dear friend?📨
Mary Jo🙏

01/11/2026

Imagine you’re holding a cup of coffee. Someone bumps into you or jostles your arm, and suddenly the coffee spills everywhere.

Why did it spill?

Most people would say, “Because someone bumped into me.”
But that’s not the real reason.

The coffee spilled because coffee was already in the cup.
If the cup had been filled with tea, tea would have spilled instead.

The same truth applies to life.

When life shakes us — and it will — whatever is inside us is what comes out. Pressure doesn’t create our reactions; it reveals them. Anyone can appear calm, kind, or patient when things are easy. But when stress arrives, when words hurt, when plans fall apart, our true inner state spills over.

So the real question isn’t who shook the cup.
It’s what was in it to begin with.

When life gets difficult, what pours out of you?
Gratitude or resentment?
Peace or anger?
Resilience or the urge to quit?

Life provides the cup. The circumstances may be beyond our control.
But how we choose to fill that cup is always up to us.

Today, let’s be intentional.
Let’s fill our cups with gratitude, forgiveness, joy, resilience, and hope.
With kind words, gentle hearts, and love for others.

Because eventually, the cup will be shaken — and what’s inside will be seen.

Credit; Hope and Inspire

01/10/2026

01/09/2026

Time is a gift, and it's up to us to make the most of it 🌟. Will you fill your days with laughter and adventure, or quiet moments of reflection and growth? Maybe it's a mix of both – chasing sunsets, sharing meals with loved ones, or pursuing passions that set your soul on fire 🔥. In the midst of it all, seeking out a connection with God will bring depth and purpose 💫. The choice is yours, and every moment counts. As you navigate life's twists and turns, what matters most is that you're living your story, with intention and heart 📖.
Mary Jo🙏

01/08/2026

One day we will be
reunited in a place
where time and distance
no longer matter

Until then we hold onto the
cherished memories that
keep our spirits connected

Each day brings us closer
to that joyful reunion, where
our spirits will once again
reunite in harmony

Though we walk separate
paths for now, we know that
love transcends all boundaries,
guiding us until we are
together again

In the meantime, let us
find comfort in the love
that surrounds us , and in the
hope of a beautiful reunion
that awaits us in the eternity
of the stars

Until we meet again …

Credit: Helen Lapierre
Hello to Heaven

01/07/2026

💔 Love and grief are two sides of the same coin, aren't they? 🌟 The deeper the love, the deeper the grief can cut, but that doesn't mean we'd trade the love for anything. The memories of love can be both a comfort and a ache. 😔 For you, what's the most surprising part of navigating love and grief?
Mary Jo🙏

01/06/2026

What Do Angels Look Like?
Like the little old lady who returned your wallet yesterday.
Like the taxi driver who told you that your eyes light up the world, when you smile.
Like the small child who showed you the wonder in simple things.
Like the poor man who offered to share his lunch with you.
Like the rich man who showed you it really is all possible, if only you believe.
Like the stranger who just happened to come along when you had lost your way.
Like the friend who touched your heart, when you didn't think you had one left to touch.
Angels come in all sizes and shapes, all ages and skin types.
Some with freckles, some with dimples, some with wrinkles, some without.
They come disguised as friends, teachers, students, lovers and fools.
They don't take life too seriously,
They travel light.
They leave no forwarding address, they ask for nothing in return.
They are hard to find when your eyes are closed, but they are everywhere you look when you choose to see. Credit to; (Veronica M. Hay)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So friends, any chance that you get to touch a life with kindness, take it!
By changing individuals, we change the world. There is a great satisfaction in being an ‘angel’ in someone else’s life.

Maybe someone only needs an act of kindness to have hope in humanity; and you will be their source of hope.
You may not change the world, but you could change the world for one person. Mary Jo🙏

01/05/2026

❤ 💕 For Everyone That Has Lost A Family Member And A Friend.

❤️ At birth we board the train and meet our parents, and we believe they will always travel by our side. As time goes by, other people will board the train, and they will be significant, i.e. our siblings, friends, children, and even the love of your life.

However, at some station our parents will step down from the train, leaving us on this journey alone. Others will step down over time and leave a permanent vacuum. Some, however, will go so unnoticed that we don't realize they've vacated their seats.

The train ride will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hello's, goodbyes and farewells.

Success consists of having a good relationship with all passengers requiring that we give the best of ourselves. The mystery to everyone is, We do not know at which station we, ourselves will step down.

So we must live in the best way, love. Forgive and offer the best of who we are. It is important to do this because when the time comes for us to step down and leave our seat empty we should leave behind beautiful memories for those who will continue to travel on the train of life. I wish you all a joyful journey...

~ Unknown author ~

01/04/2026

Grieving Through Song: 7 Beautiful Songs to Help You Cope With the Loss of a Loved One.
It’s amazing how a smell, sweater, restaurant, movie, or picture triggers the memories of a lost loved one. But when you’re at the beginning of the grieving process, almost anything could bring tears to your eyes.

Grieving is one of the most painful and draining phases to experience. Some people don’t grieve right away, while others feel it fast. Grief counseling might help you through the process.

No two people handle death the same way, but when it happens, you’ll need reassurances that eventually things get better. Listening to music is therapeutic. There are many songs about losing a loved one.

If you’ve recently lost someone or it’s been twenty years, the soothing melody and inspirational lyrics might get you through a crying bout.

Check out the list below of seven songs meant to hug your heart as you go through the sadness.

1. Missing You by Diana Ross

“Missing You” was written by Lionel Ritchie in dedication to his and Diana Ross’ friend, singer, and songwriter Marvin Gaye. The poignant song discusses the feelings of losing a friend and lover.

It’s a calming, but an emotional tune that captures the pain of someone once near and dear to your heart.

2. You Are Not Alone by Michael Jackson

“You Are Not Alone” was written by singer and songwriter R. Kelly in response to Michael Jackson’s issues in his personal and professional life.

The beautiful lyrics capture the feeling of losing someone unexpectedly but knowing the person’s memories and love within your heart.

3. I’ll Be Missing You by Puff Daddy Ft. Faith Evans

“I’ll Be Missing You” was written by The Notorious B.I.G.’s widow, singer and songwriter, Faith Evans and Todd Gaither. A portion of the melody samples from The Police’s “Every Breath You Take,” which was written by Sting.

This song gives comfort to the listener by paying tribute and acknowledges they’ll remember the person daily through prayer but is hopeful a reunion will occur someday.

4. Tears In Heaven by Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton and Will Jennings wrote the song “Tears in Heaven” as a tribute to Clapton’s son, who fell to his death.

The song is one of the saddest songs about grief, but the honesty it expresses makes it worth listening to.

5. My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion

“My Heart Will Go On” was written by James Horner and Will Jennings for Celine Dion to sing for the movie Titanic.

The song’s lyrics bring melancholy but Celine’s voice brings tears as the lyrics let everyone know the deceased is not forgotten.

6. One Sweet Day by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men

“One Sweet Day” was written and sung by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men. It’s one of the most upbeat songs for losing a loved one. The beat and lyrics combine well to tell the listener it’s okay because someday you might be reunited with your lost loved ones.

7. Let It Be by The Beatles

“Let It Be” was written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon of the Beatles. The song gives hope to the listener by stating eventually a resolution and comfort will find the grieving. So the best thing to do and not stress, but let things be.

Let These Songs about Losing a Loved One Soothe You

There are no quick fixes for handling a death, but songs about losing a loved one could provide the warmth your heart needs to heal.

01/03/2026

The problem with trying to have a happy funeral is, that when someone we love dies, we aren't happy, we're sad.

We may have happy memories about the person, and there may be a part of us that's happy because they're no longer suffering or in pain, so there can be parts of a funeral that have happiness. But when someone we care about dies, the normal and natural human response is grief. We're sad, and it’s healthy to be sad.

Sometimes when people plan a funeral, they say, “Don't wear black,” or “Don't cry,” or “This is only going to be a celebration.” The motivation is good, but this can be a way of unconsciously hoping that if we don't allow a space for the sadness to flow, there won't be any sadness. But that's not how grief works. Grief only resolves itself when it's allowed to flow and move. When we repress it, and push it down, and deny its presence, it just festers inside us.

A good funeral is designed to allow us to be present to our grief. Of course, they can also include lots of laughter. Funerals can have light, and beauty, and flowers, and all sorts of lovely things as part of them because beauty is part of healing. The goal of a funeral is to allow us to grieve, and to grieve in community. We don't have any other ceremony in our culture that allows us to be in grief, and to be in grief with other people.

The purpose of a funeral is to allow us to feel our grief, and to allow that grief to move. When we make a rule that only smiles and happiness is allowed, we take away the opportunity that a funeral offers, which is a chance to really be present to how incredibly sad we are that this person we love has died.

It's only by being present to our grief and honoring it, that we can then allow it to move.

A funeral is not the end of the grieving, a funeral is the beginning. If we set a tone at the funeral that says grief is allowed, grief is natural, grief is normal, and grief is healthy, then we can begin to move through our grief. That’s what allows us to integrate it and to come back again, back to ourselves again.

A grieving process takes us into a deep underworld journey and we can't skip any part of it. We have to go through it before we come back up. A good funeral is a beautiful service towards that end.

01/02/2026

"The new year begins the moment you stop holding on to what no longer fits." (Power of Positivity)

The true beginning of a year does not happen when the clock strikes midnight or when the calendar turns a leaf. It begins in the quiet moment you finally let go of what no longer fits your soul. We often carry old burdens, tired stories, and heavy expectations simply because they are familiar, even when they have become too small for the person we are becoming.

Growth is a gentle shedding of the old. When you release the things that weigh you down—the hurts, the doubts, and the roles you have outgrown—you create a sacred space within your heart. In that space, a new life can finally breathe.
Trust that by clearing away the old, you are not losing anything of value; you are simply making room for the peace and the light that truly belong to you now.

The new year is not a date on a page; it is the freedom of a light heart ready to walk a new path. 🔆

Credit: Tips that can change your life