Losing a loved one is one of the most stressful and busy situations that you may
ever encounter. The tasks seem endless. One of the most important tasks is thanking the many people that have helped you during your time of loss. For many, this can be a daunting task...but it doesn't have to be. Follow these simple guidelines to help send thanks to your friends and loved ones:

1. Send a thank you note to anyone who sent gifts, flowere or donations. Generally speaking you do not have to send a note to all funeral or memorial service attendee, or to those that send pre-printed cards.
2. Send a note to anyone who participated in the service. This includes singers, musicians, clergy, flower and pall bearers.
3. Notes should be sent approximately with 2 weeks of the service. Your notes do not need to be lengthy. Keep your comments concise and heartfelt. Two - four sentences is sufficient.
4. It is acceptable to use thank you cards with pre-printed messages. You may, however, add a short note in addition to the printed message.
5. Keep a list of everyone that sent helped out, or sent gifts to the family. Keep all cards that come with flowers and other gifts. This will make it easy to personalize your note.
6. If possible, be specific in your notes (such as: thank you for the food, donation, help with kids, etc.
7. Get Help! Friends and family can stuff envelopes, write addresses and add stamps.

General

Thank you for the donation (or "baby-sitting" "photos" "food", "flowers" etc). I really appreciated your support and generosity and during this difficult time.

Service Participation

Thank you for speaking at John's memorial. We really appreciate you taking time from your busy schedule to share your wonderful memories of John. Your words were a great comfort to friends and family.

We wish to express our thanks for the beautiful service you performed. Your eloquent words brought comfort to all in attendance. We greatly appreciate your services.

Attendance

Thank you so much for attending Barbara's funeral service. Your friendship meant a lot to her. Your kindness during this difficult time has meant a lot to our family.