"All angels have specific jobs to do. There are angels of love, angels of careers, relationships, babies, and parents. Angels are assigned to special events. They come to help us celebrate bar and bat mitzvahs, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings.  Angels are much closer to us during difficult times, at funerals, in the hospital, care homes, hospice, and standing with the surgeons and nurses during surgery. 

Angels are even nearer during times of transition in our lives. Many times, transition and transformation begin with a loss of something or somebody:  relationship break ups, loss of employment, homes, family and death. A chapter ends and a new one slowly begins to unfold. The most monumental transition of all is when we or someone we love passes from this dimension to the next - death or what the angels call “coming home.”

Very powerful angels assist our souls as we leave this physical plane and proceed to the world of spirit. These angels are a silent presence during the dying process, waiting for the person to be ready to make this final journey of life. They may come hours, days or even weeks as a soul is unhooking from the body setting itself free from their physical anchor. In times of long illness, a lengthy transition process occurs as the cord slowly severs and releases the spirit. 

A person in the dying process may see or hear these angels if the angels make themselves noticeable. Even if they wish to be anonymous, they are always present as Divine sentinels giving presence and ease. Our loved ones may tell us they see or hear angels, music, a deceased relative, or friend who may make a short visit and then fade away. Family members often feel a profound peace in the dying person’s room noting that celestial beings are already preparing the way. These are interdimensional encounters and not hallucinations of the dying or grieving. Be assured these visits are very, very real.

In the case of sudden death, angels come at the moment of passing. Always a soul is accompanied by angels to the other side with love and illumination of the path ahead. When they are safely in the company of loved ones and our Creator across this ultimate threshold, angels may leave the soul to explore, meet and greet those who have gone before and then have a much-needed rest. 

If a soul isn’t willing to let go of the world, people, or places, or if they want to stay connected with the physical plane, there is an angel waiting with them, until the time is right and that being gives their final good-byes and departs to the light. No one is ever alone in this world, even if it feels like it, it just isn’t possible.

Those left behind are never alone either as powerful, compassionate angels attend those who are grieving this great loss. These angels hold great storehouses for patience, grace, strength, love, and give abundantly when we are in deepest despair. Many times, we are discouraged that we are unable to “feel” this relief because of our pain, but these fountains of nourishing Divine waters of life continue to pour into us and our broken hearts. 

The angels of grief often point the way for human aid as well, putting hospice nurses, counselors and chaplains in our path who have special callings and gifts to offer when we are in these darkest nights of the soul. Grief is a threshing floor, grinding us to be moldable into the bread of life. The process is excruciating, and we feel more pain than we think humanly possible. But we do live in it and it will crack open our heart so it will hold more and more love.  Sorrow will make us pliable into a compassion we didn’t know existed. It will make us grateful for the love, kindness of loved one, friends and strangers. It will deepen us to feel the brush of an angel wing. It will burn us to ashes so we can soar as a Phoenix.

Silently angels can meet us in those wells of loneliness when we can’t find our way out and no human touch can. We are lifted slowly each day back into a new light of day, sometimes better than before, for we will be filled with compassion and empathy for those who have and will be traveling this murky path in the future. We now have much to offer from our own trek through grief and beyond.

The angels of grief are honored to be with us and so willing to go to the depths of our despair, to hold us, to coddle our spirit until we can stand on our own. They sit with us while we cry, scream out to God “WHY?” and “When will this ever stop hurting?” They are present in those bleakest of times when there seems no hope or light in the world, and it seems that there is no end to the pain or suffering. Soothing, calming, and ever present they stay with us day and night, never sleeping or parting from our side.

These are some of the most important angels of the angelic realm.  They deal with real, down, and dirty life with us. They are extremely strong and compassionate. These angels help our hearts go on beating even when they are shattered. Angels of grief dim their light to a soft night glow to allow us to slumber from our normal daily duties.  When our emotions are so overwhelming that we walk in a daze, just eating enough to survive, showing up for our lives as best we can while walking around with what seems to be canyons of emptiness in our souls; they are there always with us. We tell ourselves that it will pass someday, but for now, we are in it, from our toes to the very top of our heads.  Even our hair hurts. 

Angels of grief are not the only angels with us at this time, we have many celestial helpers who step up and become closer - supporting us. The closest ones to us who put in a 911 call to those grief angels are our own Guardian Angels. They know us as no other can – only our Guardian Angel and the Divine Itself. They have been through it all with us from birth and will walk with us to our own final destination, returning to our true home of spirit.

We all have Guardian Angels. It is a fact of life. No one comes into this Earth school without at least one being of light that we commonly refer to as our Guardian Angel. They are here to guide, love, protect, commiserate, and love us as we accomplish our soul missions. We have chosen these angels specifically to help us and direct all the other angels we may need throughout our visit here in body.

Guardian Angels love us dearly and unconditionally. They call us their “charge.” They organize synchronicity throughout our lives to help us with what our soul came to learn and to do with a love that knows no bounds. Even though they never leave our side, they may stay anonymous, but they are always, always with us - no matter what. We can’t even send them away, for they only do Divine Will, and that unconditional love will never abandon us. Guardian Angels are closest when we are in times of need and especially in our gut-wrenching grief.

Now as we face unbearable sorrow, disappointment, betrayal, loss; as we reassess our spiritual beliefs and restructure to a newer deeper level, the grief angels are immediately called and stepping up to the plate with our Guardian Angel’s blessing. Our Guardian Angels only call in the best for each of us in our time of need. It is true, it is so.

Angels of grief go unscathed where no one dares to go.  We didn’t ask for grief, it was sprung upon us like a wild beast, engulfing us to a prison, a black hole within ourselves we didn’t know we were capable of going. They go with us on this journey, they know the way back.  When it is time, they will turn on the light of comfort and hope. 

Richard Fenchum, I and so many will miss you. You put a mark on this earth that many of us respect and look up to you. Your heart was kind and generous and your love for your family is so commendable. Those angels that are with you now will show you the way to gather your own wings because truly here amongst us there was one and now when it's my turn, I won't be afraid because I'll have memory to show me the way. Love you Richard my friend my brother."

-David B. Ingalls

Richard Wayne Finchum I carry the same middle name.  So how could I ever forget you.  I will miss you.  I remember when I was young sleeping on the floor surrounded by cousins never felt safer.  

Love Josh

Rich, you are forever in our hearts ♥️ and I will never forget you. Much love 💕

-KellyRose

Rich, I truly miss you and loved you.

- Mom