Tips for Helping Friends Who Have Lost a Loved One
What should you do and how should you respond when a friend or colleague loses a family member? It’s not always easy to know exactly what to do in support of the grieving. In fact, there are so many possible options that it might feel difficult to know which to choose. Sometimes it’s the simple things in life that make the biggest impact. So here are some tips to help a grieving friend or colleague after funeral services or cremation services in Waynesfield, OH.
Help Out Where Possible
One simple but effective thing you can do is to help with whatever tasks or chores they might have. Planning final services will take up some of their time, so you might want to let your friend or co-worker know that you’re available to assist with anything they might need help with. You might want to help with anything from mowing their lawn to vacuuming their living room, from buying their groceries to cooking a meal, or from walking their dog to going to the airport to pick up any relatives flying in to attend the cremation services. In other words, there are loads of things you can do to show your friend or colleague that you’re there for them.
Offer Financial Assistance
If you’re close to your friend or co-worker, perhaps you can offer a financial gift to help out with expenses associated with final services. Otherwise, you could contribute to something in particular. So if there’ll be a reception later, offer to pay for the caterer. If there’ll be a church service, offer to buy some of the flowers. You can bet your contribution will be appreciated. Of course, you should not go into debt to contribute in this way. There’s no obligation for you to give what you don’t have. Only contribute in this way if you can – and if you particularly want to.
Send Handwritten Note or Card
It can be a good idea to give your grieving friend or co-worker a handwritten note to let them know that you are sorry for their loss, are praying for them and their family, and are there to help out in any way you can. Make it short and stay on topic. It will make the sort of impact you want.
Go to the Service or Memorial
You can show you care by attending the service or the memorial. If you can’t be there, let them know ahead that you’d love to but won’t be able to make it. And be sure they know that you’re there for them. If you can be at the service or memorial, do so since sometimes simply being on hand to support them is worth more than money or gifts.
These are just a few examples of the sort of things you can do to support a grieving friend or co-worker who has lost a family member. What you want to do is to let them know that you’re there and that you care. The tips above will give you some ideas, but feel free to come up with some of your own. As long as it comes from the heart, it’s sure to be well received.
At Eley Funeral Home & Crematory, we specialize in helping families to plan Waynesfield, OH cremation services and funeral services. Get in touch by phone at (419) 738-7676 or visit us at 1102 Lincoln Ave, Wapakoneta, OH 45895. Our funeral director will be pleased to assist you.
