MEANINGS OF MOURNING FOR PEOPLE WHO FACED THE DEATH OF A FAMILY MEMBER DUE TO COVID-19.

Objective: to understand the meanings of mourning for people who faced the death of a family member due to COVID-19. Method: qualitative study, action-participant type, based on the assumptions of Paulo Freire. Participants were 16 family members living on the coast of Santa Catarina, Brazil. A Culture Circle was held in a virtual way, following the stages of the Freire’s Itinerary. Results: the participants meant that the experience of mourning the family, due to COVID-19, took them the opportunity to say goodbye to their loved one. The pandemic also took away their jobs, their children’s face-to-face classes, meetings, weddings, hugs and smiles. But it also meant that it brought learning, with strengthening of spirituality and family. Conclusion: the meaning of mourning permeated countless losses, restricting the experience of the stages of mourning. However, there was a greater search for spirituality and religion, with appreciation of family and life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]