It might be the last thing you want to do after the death of a loved one.It's important to acknowledge others' kindness in times of grief and hardship.Sending a short, simple thank you note is a thoughtful way to show your appreciation for those who were involved in the lives of your late loved one.
Step 1: Speak from your heart.
Let the person know how much it meant to you that they were there for you during your time of need, and what they contributed to.Depending on what the person did for you and your loved ones, there are many ways to approach the wording in your thank you notes.You can thank them for thinking of you and let them know that it meant a lot to you.If you want to share a personal anecdote from the life of the person you are thanking, please do so.Personalizing your thank you notes is a nice touch, but don't feel like you have to do this.
Step 2: Specific is the best way to describe it.
Refer to the person or group you are thanking in your thank you notes.Let them know that their thoughtfulness meant a lot to you by specifying what you were thanking them for.Begin your thank you note and build to more details."Thank you for your kindness during this difficult time" or "Our family appreciates your support" are good starting points.You can build on how they helped you.You might say something like "The meal you sent us was wonderful because it made one less thing for me to worry about" after thanking them for their kindness.We really appreciated it.It's important to thank them for their contribution.
Step 3: Mentioning specific dollar amounts is not advisable.
If you are writing a thank you note to someone who gave a monetary donation in memory of a loved one, don't mention how much they gave.Say that you are thankful for their generosity in honoring your loved one."Thank you for your generosity in our time of grief" is a good way to say thank you.The donation in honor of the deceased means a lot to us.You can convey your appreciation without mentioning how much they gave.
Step 4: Don't feel pressured to write long notes.
You can communicate your gratitude with two or three sentences.The act of sending individual thank you notes speaks volumes about how thankful you are.It is not necessary for you to write long paragraphs to communicate your gratitude.You can either sign the notes with your own name or the name of your family.
Step 5: Send them within two weeks.
You need to send thank you notes within two weeks of the funeral.If you take longer to send the notes, don't worry, your friends and loved ones know you're grieving.A late thank you note is better than nothing at all.
Step 6: If you need help, ask for it.
Don't hesitate to ask those around you for help if you feel overwhelmed by the prospect of thanking dozens of people after the death of a loved one.If it is sending someone to the post office to buy you stamps or envelopes, delegate the tasks to close friends or family members.
Step 7: Thank you notes are not required.
If you do not get around to thank you notes, don't feel bad.During times of grief, good manners can take a back seat to mourning.If you can not finish the thank you notes, don't beat yourself up.