Hi...the daughter of my boss's "boss" passed away and I am wondering when is it too late to send a sympathy card. I bought one after I heard and the time got away from me (shame on me) and it's been about 3 weeks now since the passing. Is it ok to still send it, or should I send more of an encouragement at this time?
It is never too late. To remember a loved one that has passed away, is very comforting no matter how long.
Please send the card. What happens is that everyone sends condolences when it happens, and then the family stops hearing from people. Reality sets in and it's so hard. A later card or call from someone can be a healing balm. Whatever you do to show support will mean a lot to them.
Dawn
SEND IT! There's a HUGE outpouring of support in the first few days and then everybody goes back to their lives. Three week, heck three MONTHS isn't too late.
I think 3 weeks is fine. I actually think anytime is proabably okay.
I do not think 3 weeks later is too late at all.
No, it's not too late! And you know that, though (understandably) you haven't thought it through. The family is still grieving, and will be for a long time. It only seems late, but it isn't.
Go ahead and send your sympathy card with a little hand-written note on it, and send the encouragement card later on. They will need that, too.
3 weeks is not too late.. also, although a death may have occurred 3 weeks ago, a person's grief is much more long lasting... so a sympathy card in my opinion is just fine. However, if you feel uncomfortable sending it, then as you say an encouragement card OR one of those thinking of you cards, many are somewhat similar to a sympathy. Lastly, you could always choose a blank card and write whatever you think is best to say at the time..
my sympathy to your boss and his/her family...
Anytime is good. it is hard for a long time to lose someone you love. Knowing you care is special to them.
Send a note but not the card. Unfortunately you will have another time to send it to someone. As we get older, there is always some tragedy...
When my dad passed away, my mom found that the later the card, the more it meant to her because after a week or so, everyone goes home and back to their lives. The cards that come later let her know that others were still thinking about what happened and cared.
Go with your God & your gut, it's never too late to say, 'I'm sorry'...
I agree with the others. It's never too late. Sometimes if you wait a bit it's even more helpful for the grieving person because after a few weeks people kind of forget about their pain. I think you should send it.
It is never too late--3 weeks isn't that late. An encouragement card would be nice too!
My mother received a card from a friend 2 months after my dad died. It meant so much to her that someone was still thinking of her pain after all the initial attention had worn off. Now she always sends a first or second sympathy card a few months after the death.
it's never too late.
Just this last week, a widower told me that she received cards from people 6 months + after her husband died and she appreciated every single one. She said to send the card no matter how long it has been.
