Summary:
Discover ten ways to offer comfort to grieving families that will cost less than most flower arrangements and will likely be appreciated more.

Details or Sample:
Romantics will tell you that fresh flowers are perfect objects of condolence because they symbolize the beauty and brevity of life; allergics will tell you that they would prefer their sniffles and tears at a funeral to be from grief. Whichever position you hold, you will probably agree that fresh flowers can cost a lot for the amount of time they last.

When the deceased was well known, grieving family members may receive so many flowers that they hardly notice the particular arrangement you lovingly selected. Often, other means of condolence are better appreciated and less expensive than fresh flowers.

For those who want to stick close to tradition, consider sending a potted plant from your own garden in a basket or pot from a thrift shop; grieving family members can transplant your gift into their own yard and have a lasting memorial to their loved one.

Making a donation to charity is becoming more common; many obituaries will suggest a favored charity to receive gifts in lieu of flowers. If no charity is suggested, be sure to choose one the deceased would appreciate; don’t give to PETA if his favorite meal was surf and turf or donate to a church if she was an atheist.

Consider housesitting during the funeral, particularly if you did not know the deceased well but are close to a family member. Sometimes homes of grievers are targets for burglars who browse the obituaries looking for names of family members and funeral times.

Likewise, many families could use babysitting services. Families with children too small to attend the funeral would greatly appreciate having someone they know to stay with the young ones so that everyone else can attend. If you plan to attend the funeral yourself, offer to take the kids away for a few hours while the adults make funeral arrangements.

Write a letter telling the family . . .

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Downloads: 0
Written by: Shannon Christman
Available File Types:Text
Words: 670