Etiquette for Funerals

When you send a thank-you note to someone for attending a loved one's funeral, a pre-printed card is sufficient. You can, of course, also write additional sentiments in the card, or include a...

Wakes and funerals can be stressful events, and the last thing you want to be concerned about is whether your attire is appropriate for the occasion. When making your decisions, simply consider...

The 21-gun salute is a type of military honor performed to honor military and state guests as well as at presidential funerals and in military celebrations.

Often funeral announcements will state that charitable donations can be made to a particular charity in lieu of flowers. Flowers are costly and must be removed after the funeral and, unlike a...

When sending flowers for a funeral you will have the opportunity to write something either in a small florist's card that accompanies the flowers or a purchased greeting card. These cards, along...

Flag-draped coffins are permitted for active-duty military service members, veterans, and some civilians, including the president and some members of Congress.

Collecting accurate information is the first step in planning an obituary. Consult documents to ensure that you have correct spellings of names and places and that you have accurate times for...

You just read a newspaper obituary for someone you knew. Here is how to write a note of condolence to his or her surviving loved ones.

Sending flowers to a funeral home to pay tribute to a departed friend or relative is a time-honored tradition. Some people, however, feel the need to express their condolences in different ways,...

Whether you are attending the funeral or not, funeral flowers are always appropriate and appreciated. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind when sending funeral flowers.

Funerals are conducted for two primary reasons, the first being to commemorate the life of the deceased. The second reason is to give family, friends and acquaintances the chance to pay a tribute...

Sympathy cards are always difficult to write, but a card can provide comfort to those who have suffered a loss. With a little guidance, you can write a heartfelt bereavement card that expresses...

Figuring how to help someone deal with the death of a loved one can be frustrating. You may be left feeling helpless and lost yourself, not knowing what to do about your friend's grief. Everyone...

When someone dies, sympathy flowers are typically sent to the funeral home or church where the memorial service will take place. However, many of these same arrangements end up going home with...

Comforting a grieving person can be hard at times. You may feel as if you don't know the right thing to say or do to offer sympathy in the appropriate manner. Many people choose to express their...

Funerals are seldom easy. The emotions and grief that one goes through can push almost all thoughts of etiquette aside. Yet eventually there comes a time when you will want to thank those who sent...

When someone dies, it is natural to want to reach out to that person's loved ones to show how much you care. Traditional memorial gifts include flowers, plants and donations in honor of the...

No matter how death comes, whether it was long, drawn out and excruciating, or a devastating quick shock, the finality of death hangs like an unwanted cloak. It is inevitable, inescapable and...

When loved ones die, survivors are typically inundated with a barrage of sympathy cards and funeral flowers. As with most life events, there are codes and rules for what is proper and what isn't....

Sending flowers to a funeral is a traditional way to show your respects and offer sympathy to the family of the person they have lost. However, there are also some nontraditional gifts that can be...

Whatever the circumstances, death is always difficult to face and receiving flowers in sympathy of your loss is a comfort. Sending a thank you card is the traditional method for acknowledging the...

It's common in many cultures to send sympathy flowers to the bereaved family when a loved one has passed away. There are many theories regarding the origin of sympathy flowers. Some speculate it's...

Losing a loved one is never easy, but one of the ways we cope is by sending the survivors a card in which we express our sympathies. This can be a harrowing card to write, as you don't want to...

The Flag Code is outlined in Title 4 of the United States Federal Code. In cases of a funeral, the code outlines how an American flag should be draped upon a casket and the requirements under...

Because performing funerals is an expected part of a pastor's job, especially for church members, the general consensus is that tipping is not necessary. However, tipping a pastor for speaking at...

Going to a funeral is never an easy or happy thing to do. Dressing appropriately for the service is very important because it shows respect for the deceased and for the other loved ones attending...

Funerals are one of our most important, yet difficult cultural rituals. If you've experienced a loss, you know firsthand what a comfort it can be to have a circle of support during that time. If...

Sympathy thank-you notes are generally sent to people who helped with the service including pallbearers, clergy members, and anyone who did a reading. They are also sent to anyone who helped with...

When a close friend or associate passes away, it can be difficult and even awkward to know what to say to the grieving loved ones. For some people, it is easier to express their condolences in a...

Sympathy cards are sent to the bereaved to express our condolences on the loss of their loved one. It can be extremely difficult to compose an appropriate message of sympathy. Everyone grieves...

Grieving is a personal process. Everyone grieves differently; every death is a different situation. It can be very difficult to express our condolences to the bereaved. Traditionally, we send...

You can express your gratitude to those who supported you during the loss of a loved one with a brief thank you note. Pre-printed cards are now considered acceptable; the rule used to be that a...

A handmade sympathy card expresses the deepest feelings of its creator on behalf of the deceased, and is designed to empathize and sympathize with the bereaved. Unlike a sympathy card that has...

There is a strict etiquette for displaying an American flag over the casket of a patriot. There are certain people eligible to be accorded that honor. Before considering this, learn how to place...

Finding out if a relative is dead can be a tricky situation. On the one hand, you want to know so you can honor that person in your own way. Sometimes, families are OK discussing the details. But...

It is often hard to know what to say when a friend, co-worker or loved one loses someone close to them. While buying a well-meant sympathy card is one way to help express your condolences, you...

Grief is a process with no time limit or prescription that people must go through after the death of a loved one. Discover how to deal with grief after death with tips from a hospice community...

When a person is dying, they go through a series of losses that each produce their own unique grief reaction. Gain a better understanding of the stages of death and dying with tips from a hospice...

It is hard to hear of the death of a family member, friend or acquaintance. You realize it is important to send your sympathy to the family, especially the widow. If you have little experience...

You have gotten the news. A business associate, personal friend or family member has died. This is one of the things we all hate to deal with. You know you must communicate with or go to visit the...

The pain from the loss of a child is something all parents hope to never experience. When someone you know suffers the loss of a child, there is nothing you can do to take away that pain. However,...

Responding to sympathy cards is amongst the hardest tasks to complete when faced with the death of a loved one. Etiquette is often far from your mind, since you are in a state of grief, but it is...

Bereavement cards, more commonly known as sympathy cards, help you express your sorrow and support to friends or family who have lost a loved one. They are often sent when you can't attend the...

The image of Jackie Kennedy draped in a waist-length black veil as she watched the funeral procession of her husband, President John F. Kennedy, is one of stoic dignity and sad grace. The funeral...

Sympathy letters are written to express condolences for friends and family members who have lost a loved one. These types of letters are generally sent immediately after notification that a person...

Condolence letters are sent to friends, family and loved ones when they have experienced a loss. Condolence cards express sympathy and empathy . Letters are usually concise, full of words of love...

Losing a beloved family member, friend or even a pet, is one of the hardest and most emotional experiences we can go through. Trying to support a friend after they lose someone and go through the...

The Victorians had rules that covered every aspect of mourning. When someone died, they knew how they had to dress and for how long, with different time increments according to a person’s...

The American flag represents the United States. It is to be respected, handled carefully and honored during any parade, procession, memorial, burial and funeral. At a funeral, the flag is folded...