When someone loses a loved one, it can be difficult to know what to say. This is true whether you also knew and loved the person who died, or if you didn’t know them especially well.
Being around someone who’s recently suffered a bereavement can feel awkward – you might be worried about saying the wrong thing and upsetting them further. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to talking to someone about a loved one’s death. Remember, if it gets too much, bereavement support services are always an option.
1) Acknowledge what has happened
You might think that talking around a bereavement rather than addressing it will make the grieving person feel better, when in fact, the opposite is often true. At the same time, they may not want to make you sad by mentioning the loss. Give bereaved people the opportunity to talk about their loved one by offering your condolences – something as simple as ‘I’m sorry for your loss, and I’m here if you need to talk about it’ gives them the chance to open up if they want to.
2) Reassure them
Some people worry that if their grief is too obvious, they will upset everyone around them. You can make things easier by telling them it’s okay to be sad, and that if they want to talk about their loved one, you are there to listen. You could help by sharing some of your happy memories of the deceased, as this can help to cheer the other person up while encouraging them to share their own memories.
3) Ask what you can do to help
In the period following a death, the family of the deceased can easily find themselves overwhelmed, as they have to arrange the funeral and sort out their loved one’s affairs. Ask if there’s anything you can do to ease the burden – for example, you could do the cooking or shopping for them, or any other household chores. They may also need help with potentially stressful tasks such as clearing out their loved one’s house, or contacting friends and family to let them know what’s happened and invite them to the funeral.
If you’re looking for a funeral service that offers bereavement support, Dils Funeral Services are here to help. We provide bereavement support services to help you to cope with the sadness around losing a loved one and planning their funeral.
