We got a call yesterday from a gentleman in our sphere to tell us of his wife's passing. He had always been the one that had health challenges and at 80 years young still enjoyed playing golf....going to Florida for the winter and coming back to Wisconsin for the summer and fall. They have talked for a while about selling their home here and getting a condo...someday...and Ceil talked about the things that they would downsize and people I would find to appraise or sell some of the things she would choose not to move. When they were ready....someday. Someday came sooner than anyone could know as it sometimes does...we have packaged dinners to take to her husband and will attend the wake tomorrow evening.
Sometimes, we are unable to attend funerals...distance, prior committments...and now there is a way that you can extend your sympathy to the family in a very immediate way. There is a service called, www.Legacy.com and in the greater Milwaukee/Waukesha area you find it by going to www.Jsonline.com - the Journal/Sentinel and going to the deatn notices. You may write in the person's name and you will find their obituary and you are also able to write a sympathy note, send flowers, learn of a charity that the family may wish you to use as a memorial. You write your expression of sympathy and it is screened and then you receive an e-mail letting you know your message has been posted on the site.
You can't always be there...you can always take a minute to express your sympathy and this is certainly a timely and easy way to let people know how much you care. Make it about them...your memories become their memories and that is the sweetest part of the life they have left behind for those who loved them.
Sally K. & David L. Hanson, ABR, CDPE, CSS, e-Pro,ILHM, REDS
David and Sally, Thanks for the reminder. You always seem to know the right things to do and say!
You can't always be there...you can always take a minute to express your sympathy and this is certainly a timely and easy way to let people know how much you care.
It is a special kind of remembrance for the family that will appreciate forever.
Sally & David--I came here because you visited my puddle in the rain recently so I followed the link here. I am glad I did. Thanks for the suggestion on online message. Our newspaper has similar service. I wrote a message to an old high school friend whose mother passed and I was not able to get back to my home town for the service.
Just last night my husband & I had the widow of a good friend who died in January over for dinner. Also in attendence were mutual friends who now live 350 miles away and were not able to attend the memorial service in January. It was a great way to reach out to our friends during the difficult time after the funeral.
Thank you Mary....we visited the widower today....the copy of the on line messages will be a lasting remembrance he and the family will have to comfort them at this difficult time.
Sally-I have used that site on more than one occassion..and I think its a comfort for people who have lost a loved one! You have a huge heart girl!
Treating people the way you would want to...and have been treated by others is what the world should be about....when you make it about them, it ends up being about you...the motivation is to remember how you would feel...what would YOU appreciate...and then just do it.
I've used this when I heard of a friends' passing. The funeral was over, but I was able to share with our mutual friends and his family my saddness and share some memories.
Technology isn't just about business...it can be and is about people....and this is an invaluable tool to help comfort people near or far at a time they need it most.