How to Help the Grieving After the Funeral

After the death of a loved one, there is a lot of planning to do with funeral arrangements and a host of other tiny details. The grief stricken individual is sometimes still in shock and denial and may not be able to function. How can you help?

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Buy a sympathy card and put a check in it as part of your contribution to the expenses of hosting the reception, which should not be too substantial. Just give what you can afford. Remember, grief is the normal process of healing, so suggest and attempt to take them to a support group and go along with them if you see that the grieving process is becoming difficult.
2. Offer a listening ear. Some people want to talk to someone, but most friends keep away from the bereaved to give them space. They don’t need space all the time. Loneliness is an emotion that can result in depression. Invite them over to dinner, if they seem to be lonely or sad. If the answer to your invitation is negative, give them a few days and try again. Be persistent, but in a gentle way.
3. The aftermath of grief is lifetime. It never ends. It gets easier to live without the loved one as time goes on. So be a good friend that sticks close to them throughout their life. Your friendship will become part of the healing process. This is the time that your grieving friend needs you most. Don’t stay away. Do regular follow-ups and insist on visiting if the person wants to remain alone for any extended time period.

Tips & Warnings

• Be very sensitive.
• Be sympathetic.
• See Additional Resources to learn more.
• Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you should ask the grieving exactly what you can do for them. They are in such deep grief at the time that they may not know the answer right away.