November is the month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory. The holy souls are "saved souls"—they will enjoy the reward of heaven—but during their lives they were not the perfect souls that Christ commanded them to be. Those in purgatory cannot pray for themselves, this is why they are also called "poor" souls.  They can no longer merit anything for themselves and they must rely entirely on others to pray on their behalf. They are nevertheless part of the Communion of Saints and depend upon us to help ease their suffering and quickly advance them through their purification so that they can join the saints in heaven.

There are many saints associated with prayers for those in purgatory; St Nicholas of Tolentino, St Gertrude the Great, St Catherine of Genoa, and St Padre Pio are just a few. Research your favorite and pray for their intercession to help those in your family who have passed away.