| 1. | You should always refrain from too much familiarity with loss when penning a sympathy card (ie., "I know just how you feel"). |
| a. | | True |
| b. | | False
|
| |
| 2. | Within what time period should you send your sympathy card? |
| a. | | Within 1 month of the death |
| b. | | As soon as you can send a card |
| c. | | Within 2 weeks of the death |
| d. | | Anytime within 6 months is appropriate
|
| |
| 3. | Who should you address the sympathy card to if you didn't know the deceased or the family, but know someone grieving the death. |
| a. | | The widow or widower |
| b. | | The family in general, sent to the deceased's home |
| c. | | Send the card to the funeral home, in the name of the deceased |
| d. | | Send the card to the person you know, regardless of their relationship
|
| |
| 4. | What comment is generally NOT appropriate to put on a sympathy card? |
| a. | | "With deepest sympathy" |
| b. | | "Call me if you need anything" |
| c. | | "(He/She) will never be forgotten" |
| d. | | "Always in our hearts"
|
| |
| 5. | No matter how close you are to the family, you should always include your last name when signing your sympathy card. |
| a. | | True |
| b. | | False
|
| |
| 6. | If you are grieving and receive a number of sympathy cards, how should you acknowledge them? |
| a. | | Call the senders when you are feeling up to it |
| b. | | No reply or acknowledgement is necessary |
| c. | | Send notes of thank you as soon as you can |
| d. | | As soon as you receive them, respond with a preprinted card
|
| |
| 7. | Etiquette experts say only one rule should guide you when writing a condolence card. What is it? |
| a. | | Acknowledging the great life of the deceased |
| b. | | Recognizing the pain of the family left behind |
| c. | | Affirming the power of religion to soothe souls |
| d. | | Saying what you truly feel
|
| |
| 8. | Proper grammar and sentence structure should not be tantamount concerns when writing a sympathy card. |
| a. | | True |
| b. | | False
|
| |
| 9. | When there is a death where it truly is "for the best" (ie., someone has been invalid for many years and has suffered), how should this be handled in the sympathy card? |
| a. | | The card should be written in the style of any other |
| b. | | Acknowledge the illness or accident that befell the person many years before |
| c. | | Say "it's really for the best" while acknowledging the family's suffering and the deceased's suffering |
| d. | | The wording should be even more delicate than usual
|
| |
| 10. | If, for whatever reason, you can't send a thank you note, what is a common (and accepted) alternative? |
| a. | | A pre-printed condolence card purchased from a funeral home |
| b. | | An email |
| c. | | A phone call |
| d. | | Sending your verbal condolence via another friend or family member
|
| |
| 11. | It is never appropriate to include money in a condolence card, even to a new widow with young children. |
| a. | | True |
| b. | | False
|
| |
| 12. | Who should send sympathy cards? |
| a. | | Close friends of the deceased |
| b. | | Close friends and family of the deceased |
| c. | | Family, friends and co-workers of the deceased |
| d. | | Anyone acquainted with the deceased
|
| |
| 13. | Etiquette experts prefer people send one style of sympathy card. What is it? |
| a. | | Pre-printed "drug store" card that help the giver get their feelings across |
| b. | | Blank notes that allow the sender to express their thoughts and sympathies in their own words |
| c. | | Sympathy cards provided by funeral homes |
| d. | | Cards engraved with the giver's name
|
| |
| 14. | If someone has died a violent death and you want to somehow acknowledge the particular pressure the family is under, how do you express this in your sympathy card? |
| a. | | You don't |
| b. | | You can very gently broach the topic |
| c. | | Gently broach the topic but focus on the deceased's accomplishments and life |
| d. | | Be open about it; the grieving family usually appreciates this
|
| |
| 15. | If the card is from several associates within the community, is there an order in which to sign the sympathy card? |
| a. | | Yes |
| b. | | No |
| |
| 16. | where do you place a picture of the hung deceased? |
| a. | | bottom left |
| b. | | bottom right |
| c. | | a huge card on the front garden |
| d. | | get the real body and put it in a blender |
| |
What others think about Sympathy Card Etiquette |
| By: Kathreen on Jan 20, 2013 |
| | I really appreciate free, succinct, reliblae data like this. |
|
 |
| By: jim on Feb 16, 2011 |
| | I was blessed to have enjoyed (person) in our close freindship |
|
|
| By: Melody on Jul 12, 2010 |
| | Send one as soon as possible, it doesn't help me near as much when I get one weeks or a month later. The first week of loss is the hardest and caring thoughts would be more important then. |
|
|
| By: jenny smith on Feb 21, 2010 |
| | it makes one think before sending a card |
|
|
| By: mcdtito on Feb 15, 2010 |
| | Business is never so healthy as when, like a chicken, it must do a certain amount of scratching around for what it gets. |
|
|
| By: jeanie on Feb 21, 2010 |
| | It was actually painful for me to get cards and flowers after my mom died, but now I appreciate the senders and their kindness. |
|
|
| By: ann decca on Jan 29, 2010 |
| | With sympathy and understanding. |
|
|
| By: Lucy on Aug 26, 2009 |
|
|
| By: Cathy on Aug 20, 2009 |
| | A sympathy card should not be typewritten. |
|
|
| By: EvePlumb on Jul 13, 2009 |
| | Today, Plumb resides in Laguna Beach, California, with her second husband Kenneth Pace, a business consultant. She works as an artist, has served as a member of the Laguna Beach Board of Adjustments/Design Review Board since February 2002, and was elected chair pro-tem of that board in February 2005 |
|
|
| By: Carol on Jul 8, 2009 |
| | I'm not fond of "group" sympathy cards, as in one card with multiple signatures of perhaps co-workers. Those should be left for celebratory purposes such as birthdays and retirement. I'd rather a someone simply say "sorry for your loss" in person. |
|
|
| By: martha washington on Jun 18, 2009 |
|
|
| By: Debbie on Jun 10, 2009 |
| | For question 12. Sympathy card should also be sent by friends, family and co-workers of the surviving family members, not just the deceased. |
|
|
| By: robin on Mar 30, 2009 |
| | Sympathy card etitqueet is very important
While trying to express ones sympathy we must be cautiouned to not create a statement that my be over familiar. Keep it simple, to the point and if you knew the deceased very well a small brief antcedote may be added. . |
|
|
| By: Me on Mar 18, 2009 |
|
|
| By: Elaine on Feb 12, 2009 |
| | Question: Do you mail a sympathy card to husband and wife? |
|
|
| By: Betty on Feb 14, 2009 |
| | Should you address the card to an individual who lost thier parent or to the person and their spouse? |
|
|
| By: Jack on Nov 21, 2008 |
| | How long should someone wait to send a sympathy card? |
|
|
| By: Theresa on Nov 18, 2008 |
| | I think this is a great website. Expressing sympathy sentiments well are a comfort to those who are grieving. Poorly expressed sympathy can unknowingly inflict additional pain or discomfort... |
|
|
| By: Bruce on Nov 12, 2008 |
| | My wife and I send a card to the family, a donation to a charity and a prayer to the Lord. |
|
|
| By: Judy on Oct 19, 2008 |
| | I am a month late on sending a sympathy due to illness, surgery and a friend in a nursing home. Is it to late to respond to the family? |
|
|
| By: gail on Oct 7, 2008 |
| | my husband just passed and although appreciated I find it difficult to read all of the cards |
|
|
| By: Cindy on Sep 11, 2008 |
| | Sympathy cards are very welcome and consoling after a death. |
|
|
| By: Lucinda on Sep 9, 2008 |
| | If using preprinted acknowledgements of sympathy cards, one must always ad a handwritten note |
|
|
| By: Ginny on Sep 4, 2008 |
| | When my husband passed I received sympathy cards, but some people told me that they thought it would make me more upset it doesn't send cards they are greatly appreciated. |
|
|
| By: Mike on Aug 24, 2008 |
| | Great site that is informative |
|
|
| By: Rufus on Aug 10, 2008 |
| | Be sincere. That will come across more than anything. Forget the flowery cliches. They are not helpful to someone who is truly grieving |
|
|
| By: Mable on Aug 8, 2008 |
|
|
| By: Kay on Aug 6, 2008 |
|
|
| By: Debi Walsh on Aug 5, 2008 |
|
|
| By: sally on Aug 4, 2008 |
|
|
| By: kng18 on Jul 23, 2008 |
| | I know the going is tough now,but just remember lifeoves on. |
|
|
| By: Debbie on Jul 20, 2008 |
| | Don't try to take someone's grief from them by saying things like "Be Strong" and "He/She's in a better place now." And don't offer to help unless you put an actionable intent behind it. Don't put more burden on that person to call you. |
|
|
