Condolence Letter from Stranger

I have heard that their are certain religions that look through obituaries and wedding announcements, and then write letters to the people about their faith. No Jehovah Witness and Seventh Day Adventist are not the same. I don't know who sent it but a wild guess would be the former. I think the Jehovah Witnesses are required by their religion to tell people about their faith on a regular basis, like a missionary or something. My husband was great friends with a Jehovah Witness. We disagree with his religion but he goes out every weekend to tell people about his faith. I know it is annoying to other people, but knowing him, I really don't think he is trying to annoy or hurt anyone. He is such a nice guy. Maybe just throw the letter away and let it go.

Personally...I don't even want "polite" folks sending me letters and religious paraphernalia to my home. I don't care, if the content of the letter seemed polite. Finding out personal information through an obituary, and sending a note with a pamphlet during a time of grieving (or at all!), is NOT polite. Digging to find stranger's addresses, is just not polite period. Yes, you can find someone's personal info, if you dig. However, who in the world needs to do that?!? If I were you, I would have assumed, that it's a faith spreading motivation. A scientologist got a hold of my info once, and I was sent stuff...for over a year. I called so many times to the church and demanded they stop. It wasn't until I moved, that I was rid of them. I do feel sorry for the people living there now. They are probably still receiving the junk!! Hopefully, you won't receive anymore.

It's incredibly easy to look up people's addresses and phone numbers on the web. There are several free directories, and if you are listed in a phone book anywhere, you can probably find the same info online. Check out www.whitepages.com, enter your name and city, and I'll bet your address and phone # will pop up.

It's a great convenience for those of us with a legitimate need to contact somebody living elsewhere. It's a little unsettling when a stranger contacts you. In this case, it doesn't look like any threat is implied, and this woman appears to have waited a "sensitive" length of time before writing you. Just throw the letter away if you don't like it.

I'm sorry to hear of your father's death.

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With public records it is fairly easy to piece together that type of information, or at least make a darn good guess.

I wouldn't mind the proselytizing but I would mind that someone took the time to figure out where to send such a letter

The only other thing I would wonder is whether she actually did know my parents.

If your name was in the paper its very easy to get the address all they have to do is search online.

to me it is creepy. I believe in sharing faith in god but would never do anything like that to do it. it is invasive and unwelcome and the wrong way to go about it. my first instinct was if they make it sound like a "faith" letter it is a good way to fish about inheretance. I might send a condoloence to a family of a friend of mine but i would do it shortly after the death no more than 3 months unless I just found out then I wouldn't do it. and I would never send a church flier in it. it may be a card with a religioius undertone in the card written by the manufacturer but I would also explain who I was and how I knew the deceased. sorry for your loss granted its late but i just found out and you still get my condeolences.

Ewww, that would freak me out and I think I would shred the letter. The nice words are one thing but this sounds odd. It could be a scam. I'm not sure, maybe you can report it to the police? I would hate for a stranger to send me personal mail like this. Sorry about your dad.

I am Catholic and not familar with either faith you mentioned other than the names of them.

Anyhow I think this woman you mentioned was just showing her respects to your dad. She possibly thought you were grieving for your dad and just wanted to help you in the way she knew how.
I would just be thankful your dad had such an impact on her she wanted to let you know she was sorry he passed.

Did you ever stop to think that this woman knew your dad somehow (through business or something) and was just offering condolences? It may be someone he knew but you & your mom don't?
Sorry for the loss of your dad.