My first cousin, Greg, died on Feb. 15, 2008, he would have been 30 on July 2nd this year.
my family received a phone call early Friday morning before 8 am saying that he was found on the couch not breathing, and was on the way to the hospital . shortly after we got there we received the message that he had passed on. it felt as if it were all a dream, time seemed to slow as you took in the words of the dead. as you sit there crying you think no its not true its not real. but at the same time you know that it is. and as you go to see his body, looking over him, you imagine that he is breathing and that he will reach up to you and touch you. as if he were playing some horrid joke. my cousin was much like a brother to me and my sisters and he was a good man for all the horrible things he had done and said in his life. finally as he was turning around because he loved his practically wife and his not even 4 year old daughter. but it ended up being to late.
now my family is fighting over him and how his remains will end up. my mother says that he should have a proper catholic memorial as well as I'm sure my grandparents, and his practically wife and mother say that only his immediate family should be at the wake and ceremony and he is to be cremated. my family finds this unfair to us and others in the family because we would get no closure with him if this happens. we understand and respect his and their wishes but we hope that we can get closure. if he is buried than we have a grave to go to at least.
i just don't know what to do. my entire family is torn to apart, they wont stop fighting at all not even for a death in the family. i know that this is not what he would want us to do, and i don't know how to get it across to everyone. i also don't know how to cope with my own problems in this. because when i lay in bed part of me says I'm scared to sleep and the other says its ok, and part of me just cant stop seeing his lifeless body on the table. i need someone to give me advise. please help....

I'm sorry for your loss...
Coping with loss is something that is different for every individual, there is no "one" way to deal with it.
My advice would be to finds somebody you trust and feel comfortable to talk to.

A forum is a lousy way to get / find help.

I am sincerely sorry, and it is as Taurec said, there is no particular way to take it, but if there is something I can say, keep in mind that people never fully die or live, people don't happen to live their life fully but tries to live it close to it, same goes for death, when you die, you don't die fully, cause part of you stays here, in people's heart and memories, you can keep living, through your past acts and so, don't try to think much though, let time show you the way and then it will be up to you to decide if you should stay still or move along.

I'm really sorry for your loss...but you've got to move on. There is nothing you can do about it. Like Maverickslayer said, he will always be in your heart and memories, he will not fully be gone. Also, I'm thinking that Greg wouldn't want to see you all so unhappy all the time. He would've wanted you guys to stay happy, love each other and carry on doing so. I don't think he would want to see you upset all the time.
So please smile :) Greg will always be in your heart.

No counseling threads. I'm sorry about your cousin, but please seek a real counselor to discuss your problems because that would be more helpful for you.