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How to Support a Grieving Friend During the Pandemic

Falk Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc. • November 23, 2020

When you or people you care about are grieving, all you want to do is make them feel better. It becomes your ultimate priority. Here’s how you can help in the days leading up the funeral.

During the time of crises, we need funeral homes East Greenville, PA. Because of the pandemic, many of us are grieving the loss of a loved one or seeing it around us. As a human, it is difficult to ignore the pain of community members and not to try to touch their hearts and console them.

In the era of social distancing measures, social media provides us a golden opportunity to support the bereaved and grieving in our community.

Reach Out to the Grieved

Acknowledge and recognize the irreparable loss of others and sympathize with them online. The rationale is not to make them feel isolated or alone during the ongoing pandemic when you cannot visit them in-person. Instead, show empathy and support by messaging them or calling them. Some helpful messages acknowledging their loss can be:

My deepest condolences on your loss …’
My prayers for you and your family.’
I am so sorry for your loss. Let me know if I can be of any help.’

Offer Help Voluntarily

Many people cannot ask for help, even during the toughest times. So, instead of waiting for the grieving to reach out to you, step up and offer any type of help, both emotional or monetary, they need and do whatever you can.

You may not be able to visit them but here are some ideas of how can you help them ease the pain:

Order their favorite food to their house
Send them flowers and sympathy cards
Arrange a virtual dinner by dropping off food at their place and eating together on Zoom or any other online platform – and also invite close friends.
Motivate other friends to offer support and help as well.

Understand When You Can Help

COVID-19 has affected everyone at some level. These are tough times and anyone can feel overwhelmed at times. So, evaluate when you’re ready to help the bereaved and at what capacity. If you are mentally and financially sound you can show up stronger and offer any type of help you are willing to do as a responsible member of your community.

Avoid Using Unhelpful Phrases

While offering condolences and sympathies online, people often misjudge or downplay the emotions and pain of the bereaved. They utter insensitive phrases that invalidate the grieving person. So, while offering condolences on message, audio, or video call, avoid unhelpful phrases such as:

I know your pain or comparing their loss with yours
Good people die young
At least you have …
You can always remarry
Have the Courage to Talk About It

Many people face difficulty in reaching out to the grieving person and talking about death. They tend to avoid the topic and the grieving person as well. Develop courage, show up, talk to them, and pay tribute to the deceased. Let them know how much you cared for the deceased and that they can always count on you.

In a nutshell, COVID-19 has added to the struggles of the bereaved as they can no longer give the perfect send-off to the lost loved one. During such moments of grief, it is indispensable to stand by the grieving and make maximum use of social media to show your support. Funeral homes East Greenville, PA, can only do so much.

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