What to Say (& Give) to Someone Who Lost a Parent
The loss of a parent can be a trying and emotionally-taxing experience for many people to go through. When a close friend or family member experiences this loss, you want to be available to console them through the grieving process. However, the sensitive nature of a parent's death can seem difficult to navigate.
If you are looking for the right way to help a loved one through their loss, we have some useful tips on activities that you can perform to help the special people in your life. There's also a list of ideas that you can use as a gift for someone who lost a parent.
Helping a Friend or Family Member with the Loss of a Parent
It helps to understand that people process loss in a variety of different ways. While many people experience the death of a parent with sadness, others take the opportunity to celebrate the life that their mother or father lived. Either way, a small message acknowledging their loss can help you show your support for them. A simple text message like the one below can help you do this:
Hey Tony. Just wanted to let you know that Walter, the kids, and I are here for you if you need anything from us. We all know that Aunt Joanne is watching over us as she always did.
In addition, any one of the following activities can help you support a friend or family member with the loss of a parent:
---Babysitting
---Helping with grocery shopping
---Household cleaning
---Sending meals or food delivery
These measures can help whether the loss is very recent or if your loved one is commemorating a death anniversary. It gives them the space to relax and focus on processing the loss without the stress of everyday obligations.
Condolences For a Deceased Parent
Offering condolences for the loss of a parent depends greatly on the relationship that you share with the individual. Finding what to say to someone who has lost a parent may seem difficult if the individual is a friend that you recently became close to. However, in this situation a brief paragraph acknowledging their loss can open up the opportunity for you to show your support. You can do this with a thoughtful sympathy card that can also include meaningful quotes and prayers for the departed. An example of this can be seen below:
Hey there Cynthia. I know that your father meant the world to you, and his influence has helped you be the great friend and woman you are today. I want you to know that you are in my thoughts and prayers, and if you need to talk or anything else, don't hesitate to call me.
"Although it's difficult today to see beyond the sorrow, may looking back in memory help comfort you tomorrow."
If you knew the departed and had a personal relationship with them, you can show your support by sharing how much that person meant to you. Below are some suggestions that you can use for the deceased parent of a loved one that you also knew.
Condolences for the Loss of a Father
If you want to show condolences for a cousin's loss, it is very likely that you are expressing and experiencing loss yourself. Even if it's the father of a lifelong friend, their father may have shared an uncle-like relationship with you. As such, sharing the importance of their impact in your life can help bring emotional comfort to a friend or family member. Here's an example of what to say to a friend who has lost a parent father:
To my brother-from-another-mother Peter,
Just three years ago, your father left this world and took his spot in heaven. Even though we aren't related, your dad was always Uncle Patrick to me. In fact, he was like an uncle to many of our friends while we were growing up. I remember when we won the regional championships against Clemson. Uncle Pat was so happy that he took us all out for pizza and paintball. It was one of the happiest moments of my life, and it made me so grateful to have a friend and brother in you for life.
My father and I would love to have you, the wife, and the children over for a barbecue in honor of the man, the myth, and the legend of Patrick Simpson. Just let me know the date and time, and we'll be ready whenever you are. I love you brother, and you know that I'm always there for you.
Words for Someone Who Lost Their Mother
Just like the example above, expressing the influence that your loved one's mother had on you can offer important emotional support. Here's an example of what to say to someone who lost their mother:
To my dear cousin Will,
Auntie Pam was such a strong and powerful woman, and it's hard to believe that she is no longer with us. However, her presence in this world still lives on in the memories and influence that she had in people's lives. You and I always got into some form of trouble, and Aunt Pam was always there to keep us in line. Even though she didn't play any games, her wisdom and watchful care has helped me become a responsible and successful man. Moreover, her disciplined nature was matched by her warmth, kindness and love for you, me, and everyone that she came across.
I want you to know that I'll always cherish her time on this earth and the fact that she gave me the best cousin I could ask for. And I'll be stopping through with my mom, my wife, and the kids so that we can celebrate how great Aunt Pam was to us. I love you man, and I'm always thinking about you.
The above messages gives you a template or an idea of what to send someone who lost a parent. Whether it's through a digital medium or, sympathy card, or a handwritten letter, it's important that your message comes from the heart and conveys your support for them.
Giving a Gift for Some Someone Who Lost a Parent
Along with condolences and active support, giving a gift for someone who lost a parent is a great way to offer an uplifting token to the life in memory of a deceased parent. In addition, you can use gifts as a way to show support in case you cannot physically be there for your loved one. Below are a few examples of what you could give to a friend or family member to help them with their loss.
Memorial Gifts for the Home and Personal Keepsakes
When it comes to a gift for someone who lost a parent, you want to be able to provide memorials they can appreciate within their home. You also want to choose items that are long lasting and can stand as a memorial for future generations to experience. Personalized wind chimes and memorial benches are a wonderful ways to channel the presence and spirit of a deceased parent in the home. Both are usually engineered with materials that are weather resistant and durable, and offer the option to engrave personal messages that honor the deceased.
Memorial keepsake boxes also provide attractive and secure housing for valuable items that pertain to the departed. They can offer a commemorative way to store memorable aspects of the deceased parent that can act as family heirlooms. Personalized picture frames can allow you to immortalize photographic memories that they can constantly refer to in times of need. Personalized jewelry also allows your loved ones to keep a close reminder of their lost parent with them at all times. Certain cremation pieces house ashes in a special compartment, providing a way for them to keep a piece of their deceased parent with them.
Memorial Gifts for Commemorative Gatherings
Some memorial gifts can help mark special occasions to celebrate the life of a departed mother or father. A commemorative, personalized ornament can act as a gift for someone who lost a parent that they can use during holidays and death anniversaries. You can use a customized plaque to engrave a special family recipe for Thanksgiving celebrations. These are just a few suggestions on what to give someone who lost a parent or what to send to someone who lost a parent.
Closing Thoughts
Losing a parent is an inevitable part of life that most people will experience. However, being able to provide effective emotional support can mean the world to a close friend or family member. We hope that these suggestions help you with your efforts to comfort the people you love with the parents' loss, and you can find a variety of unique sympathy items that you can use as a gift for someone who lost a parent.