Announcing a Death to Loved Ones
Funeral Procession Etiquette
March 25, 2019
Happiness after Death and Loss
April 2, 2019
It is never easy to lose someone you love. If you have recently gone through this, one of the most difficult things to do is to let others know about the death. By taking the time to read up a bit about the process and by asking for assistance from experts like those that work at funeral homes in Richmond, VA, you can learn how best to break this terrible news to loved ones.
One of the most important things to remember when having this kind of conversation is to be as honest as possible. You do not want to use euphemisms for death, since this can confuse people. This especially important if you are speaking with a child or with the elderly. Although it may feel blunt or even rude, tell them outright that their loved one has died. The sooner you do this in the conversation, the better. Many times, people think that by delaying the news, they can protect people from feeling grief, but this can be a mistake. Let them know the truth as soon as you can.
Try not to make too many promises to make the person feel better. It is very normal for parents, for example, to promise something to children to distract them or comfort them, but this is not wise. By doing this, you are not allowing the child to process the death in a timely manner. You also want to ensure that if you do make a promise, you can keep it, otherwise you will be losing the person’s trust.
Stay on topic when making the announcement. It is difficult for most of us to speak directly about death and so we tend to try to avoid the subject or mention it indirectly. To allow people the best chance of starting the grieving process and start making the necessary arrangements, you will want to be clear and precise with what you say. Of course, it is up to you to decide on the amount of information you provide. If you think that details will upset your family, then you may want to keep them to yourself. This is especially important when speaking with a child.
Telling someone that a friend or relative has died will not be easy. No one wants to cause other people grief, and that can happen when you let them know about a death, which is why so many people try to avoid or delay these news. Be strong and let your loved ones know about the death at once. This is the best thing you can do for them, since it will allow them to begin the grieving process. If you want to know more about how to have this conversation, speaking with a Richmond, VA funeral home director can be a good idea. At Morrissett Funeral and Cremation Service, we can provide guidance so that this process can be easier. Visit us at 6500 Iron Bridge Rd Richmond, VA 23234 or call us at (804) 275-7828.
