Livingston County Consortium on Aging is an active network of public and private agencies and individuals committed to networking, advocacy and direct outreach activities. Reach out to us today! [email protected] Thoughtful Suggestions for Sharing News of a Bereavement
When a loved one passes away, the close relatives of the deceased are faced with the difficult task of informing others and dealing with the deceased's affairs. Finding fitting tributes and memorials for each aspect of a person's life is often a challenge, but it's something that can help with the grieving process too. The Livingston County Consortium on Aging weighs in. Sharing News of Bereavement With Family Members The first task should be to tell the closest family members and friends so that they have time to process the news. Close relatives should be at the top of the list of people to tell about the death, notes Bereavement Advice Centre. Calling each person individually or delivering the news face to face is a good idea if you feel able to do so. Consider asking some of those relatives to take on some of the burden of spreading the word. Arrange a small wake or get-together where you can celebrate the person's life with those who meant the most to them and who likely mean a lot to you. Memorializing Social Media Accounts Many people have large groups of social media friends, and this is one area where modern etiquette can be confusing. Consider sharing the news of your loved one's death with a few of their closest, most trusted friends so they can pass the news on to the wider friend groups. Then memorialize their Facebook account and social media accounts so those who weren't as close are made aware of what has happened. It can sometimes be hard for friends to know what to do when they hear of a person's death. Sharing funeral wishes, suggestions for charitable donations, and information about funeral arrangements as part of a memorial post may help. Informing Colleagues of the Person's Passing When a working-age person dies, it's important to inform their employer so that their manager can tell their colleagues about the death. This is a sensitive issue and one that should be handled carefully. If the deceased worked for a small business and you know their colleagues well, you may wish to deliver the news in person, but for bigger companies, it's worth letting the manager inform people and offer support to those who are grieving. A person's colleagues can often be their friends and old classmates. One way to reach out and communicate what’s transpired, as well as funeral and viewing information, is searching online for the graduating class of the deceased. It’s a good idea to try to identify the class officers, who are usually in contact with others, and who are charged with getting the word out. Consider the Practical Issues Sharing the sad news of a person's passing is just one of the issues people have to deal with when they're faced with bereavement. There are financial and legal issues to deal with as well. As Vera Gibbins blogs on MassMutual, probate can be a complex and involved affair. If you find yourself having to sell the deceased's home, consider working with a real estate agent who understands the technicalities of probate sales and how they affect both buyers and sellers. Having the right experts on your side can make life much easier. Celebrate Your Loved One's Life With Memorials Dealing with the passing of a loved one isn't easy. Take the time to celebrate their life in as many ways as possible. Talk to friends and family, memorialize their accounts, and make sure colleagues and others who were in their life are informed sensitively. Ask for help with practical and financial issues so you aren't overwhelmed, and take the time to grieve for yourself as well. Image via Pexels
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