Offering Sympathy from afar in this Time of Coronavirus

How can you provide support when a friend is grieving the loss of a loved one during this pandemic.

You definitely want to support your friend through the grieving process, but how do you do that when there is no memorial service or funeral and when we are all supposed to be practicing “social distancing?” This is a dilemma that many people are facing and will continue to face in the coming weeks and months.


David Kessler, a Los Angeles-based authority on grief and founder of Grief.com, (and who is in a similar situation) stated that “this is a strange new world of grief." “If we can’t gather for a funeral, mourning becomes very complicated.” In the blink of an eye, our country's burial rituals which have traditionally helped people through the grieving process have changed.

One thing that hasn’t changed: informing friends and family about a recent death. You can do this by using a variety of methods:

1) Phone Calls

2) Technology  - Including social media, live streaming, video calls, texting, etc.

3) Newspaper Obituaries

4) In Person (when appropriate)
     -  Visit the gravesite
     -  Drop off food and/or takeout
     -  Go for a walk or bike ride with your friend
     -  Volunteer at a charity in your friend's name

One Final Thought:

We’re all struggling during this health crisis, but people mourning the deaths of their loved ones really need our support. While you may not be able to offer comfort through traditional grieving rituals, we hope these suggestions can help in a time when it is so needed.
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