What does the death and burial of the person with mental retardation really mean to parents, friends, and to the reader? This paper is an attempt to answer this question by reviewing the literature regarding the emotions, feelings and reactions of the parents to the death of the person with mental retardation. It will attempt to present some pastoral guidelines for the clergy and all who work with people with mental retardation. It will attempt to provide some support for the parents who have lived the joy and the sorrow. This paper will not deal with the process of death itself, nor with the understanding of feelings, emotions, and reactions toward death in general of the person with mental retardation. It will not deal with the personal reactions of persons with mental retardation toward their own deaths. It will attempt to review the literature regarding the parents\u27 feelings and reactions to the birth of the child who is diagnosed as having some degree of mental retardation, especially to a moderate, severe or profound degree. It will review the literature regarding the chronic sorrow and mourning of the parents following the birth of the child with mental retardation. Literature regarding pre-death and the parents\u27 reactions to terminal illness in their child, as well as the treatment and care of the severely and profoundly handicapped child during this time, will be reviewed. The author will attempt to describe the secular, Jewish and Christian understandings of death. The funeral rite will be reviewed, especially as it relates to the Judeo-Christian tradition. From this review of the literature conclusions will be drawn to assist the parents, the clergy and the reader at the moment of the death and burial of the person with mental retardation
