When someone dies, does the family really appreciate the flowers, cards and food that people give?
Absolutely. With flowers and cards, they appreciate being thought of. With food, they appreciate having one less thing to worry about (cooking in this case) in a time when they’re already under maximum stress. If you think people could use the money, you might consider going in on something practical like a prepaid gasoline card – as with the food, it gives the grieving person one less thing to have to worry about.
Yes. They may not appreciate it immediately because they are so numb from the grief, but once things settle a little, they will go back through who sent flowers and care packets and they will be touched by the outpouring of support. Sending food is thoughtful because when they do want to eat or if there are small children to feed, they don’t have to worry about preparing it.
I think it is wonderful to send flowers, money, or food. For example when my father died I was so consumed with planning the funeral and getting my little daughters ready to travel, that food was the last thing on my mind. While I was ok and did not miss food, it was a blessing to have food at hand to feed my kids. In many cases if a family does not want flowers, food, money, they will let it be know and may ask for a donation to be made to their loved ones favorite charity.
