Information for Friends and Family
Helping a Friend or Neighbor Cope with Loss

(The following was adapted from: "What To Do When Someone Dies"
Buz Overbeck and Joanie Overbeck, TLC Group, Dallas TX 1995)
1. Before the Funeral---
  1. Offer to notify his family and friends about funeral arrangements
  2. House-sit to prevent burglaries during the funeral and visitations
  3. Help answering the phone and greeting visitors
  4. Keep a record of everyone who calls, visits or has been contacted
  5. Help coordinate the food and drink supply
  6. Offer to pick up friends and family at the airport. Arrange housing
  7. Offer to provide transportation for out-of-town visitors
  8. Help him keep the house cleaned and the dishes washed

2. After the Funeral

  1. Prepare or provide dinner on a day that is mutually acceptable
  2. Do Step a. every week for two to three months
  3. Offer to help with yard chores such as watering or pruning
  4. Feed and exercise the pets, if any
  5. Write notes offering encouragement and support
  6. Offer to drive or accompany him to the cemetery regularly
  7. Offer to house sit so he can get away or visit family out of town
  8. Make a weekly run to the grocery store, laundry, or cleaners
  9. Help with the Thank You notes and/or other correspondence
  10. Anticipate difficult periods such as anniversaries, birthdays, holidays, and the day of death
  11. Always mention the deceased by name and encourage reminiscing

Above all, just listening and your concern and presence will help.

The above was excerpted from our publication: "What To Do When Someone Dies" which can be ordered by accessing and printing the order form.

TLC Group grants anyone the right to use this information without compensation so long as the copy is not used for profit or as training materials in a profit making activity such as workshops, lectures, and seminars, and so long as this paragraph is retained in its entirety.





More Articles
Responding to Grieving Families
Helping a Friend Cope w. Loss
When Words Won't Come

Find more grief
information in our main
Grief Information Center





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