Archive for the ‘Etiquette’ Category

“After the Funeral” Etiquette

There are plenty of guidelines that tell us what to wear to a funeral, how to send condolences to the family, what we need to know about buying funeral flowers, and how to act once we arrive. After all, we all want to make sure that we do our best to honor the deceased and support the family in their time of grief. (more…)

International Funeral Etiquette

If you travel a lot for work, have family overseas, live as an expat, or are abroad when a death occurs, you might find yourself invited to a funeral in another country (or for someone of a different culture). This can be an intimidating prospect, since different countries have different outlooks on death and dying. Their funerals may be loud and celebratory and open to all. They might be small, private affairs that outsiders are not welcome to attend. Funeral flowers might be expected, or they might be considered an insult. Unless you have a lot of knowledge about a country or culture, you have no way of knowing about their rituals. (more…)

To Tweet or Not to Tweet? Social Media Etiquette after a Death

For most of us, social media is where much of our lives take place. We connect with old friends and make plans with current ones. We share photos of our partners, spouses, kids, and pets. We discuss politics and religion. (more…)

Etiquette for Visiting a Cemetery

Most people know that when you visit a cemetery for a burial, there are rituals and guidelines for your behavior. However, there are also etiquette rules for when you go to the cemetery later on—either to visit the grave of a loved one or simply to take in the ambiance. (more…)

Funeral Card Etiquette

One of the simplest (and kindest) things you can send after the death of a friend or relative is a condolence card. This low-cost gesture show that you care and also provides the family with a keepsake memory of their loved one. Whether you write a personal message in a blank card or select one with a pre-printed saying, your contribution means a lot during this difficult time. (more…)

How to Send a Condolence Email

In our digital age, it is much more common to read about a death on Facebook than it is in the obituary section of the newspaper. It naturally follows that your response to this news might be to write an email expressing your condolences rather than a letter or card. (more…)

What to Do at a Funeral for a Suicide

When a friend or relative takes their own life, it can be difficult to know what to do at the funeral. At most funerals, death is a straightforward loss—the deceased is dearly missed, and grief follows from there. At a funeral for a person who died by suicide, however, there is likely to be an overwhelming array of emotions and conflicting feelings—even shock. Why did the deceased take his or her own life? What could have been done to prevent it from happening? What is there to say to the family if strong religious beliefs play a role? (more…)

How to Decline an Invitation to a Funeral

Not all funerals are held at convenient times or convenient locations. Unlike weddings, which can be planned months in advance, funerals crop up unexpectedly regardless of the time, date, weather conditions, or other plans you might already have. (more…)

Money and Funeral Etiquette

When a friend or family member passes away, people tend to want to help. This might mean bringing gifts of food, ordering funeral flowers, providing emotional support, hosting out-of-town guests, or even assisting with funeral plans. Depending on how close you are to the family, any and all of these can be appropriate gestures. (more…)