https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:48:25 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offering-condolences-to-our-neighbor#post-2440030 Thu, 28 Jan 2016 11:29:27 +0000 MaryM 2440030@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@owlteach: My friends did that when my dad passed away and it was SO helpful! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offering-condolences-to-our-neighbor#post-2439374 Thu, 28 Jan 2016 00:39:08 +0000 daniellemybelle 2439374@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@autumnlove: That's very thoughtful to make her a plate! I always like to bring fresh fruit, too, because I feel like the typical stuff is heavy - casseroles, carbs, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offering-condolences-to-our-neighbor#post-2439352 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 23:03:25 +0000 autumnlove 2439352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My neighbor's husband passed away last month and she just had surgery herself. Her kids come over on the weekend but she has been feeling lonely during the week. I've been making her a plate of whatever I'm cooking a couple times a week. I also bought her some fruit from Costco. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offering-condolences-to-our-neighbor#post-2439346 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 22:55:35 +0000 owlteach 2439346@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When my dad passed away suddenly, one of my students mom left a giant box of paper plates, plastic silverware, cups, toilet paper, etc. All the stuff no one thinks to bring, that makes feeding all the visitors, etc. easier and leaves you less dishes to wash. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offering-condolences-to-our-neighbor#post-2439277 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 20:18:37 +0000 littlejoy 2439277@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: That's so thoughtful. We have a FB thread going now, and we're going to space visits and drop offs. Thanks for the suggestion. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offering-condolences-to-our-neighbor#post-2439026 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 14:48:11 +0000 Mrs D 2439026@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our neighbors husband passed suddenly (heart attack) in his sleep this fall.</p> <p>I dropped a loaf of pumpkin bread in the mailbox with a card - I didn't want to force the interaction by knocking.</p> <p>We noticed people constantly stopping by and doing yard work - I cried every time I saw it bc I thought the generosity was so nice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offering-condolences-to-our-neighbor#post-2439019 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 14:44:45 +0000 catomd00 2439019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd do something that can be delivered or just leave it and text them it's there if you have their number or knock on the door and run away (with a note explaining you wanted to respect their privacy!) gift cards in the mailbox could be great, too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offering-condolences-to-our-neighbor#post-2438975 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 14:17:09 +0000 sorrycharlie 2438975@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have not personally dealt with such a loss but I would imagine lots of people are bringing food. Perhaps a gift card that they could use for takeout when the casseroles run out? And then if they *don't* get a ton of food, they can still use it. I know many people think of gift cards as less personal but I think they're super helpful! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offering-condolences-to-our-neighbor#post-2438965 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 14:13:11 +0000 lamariniere 2438965@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would probably just do a card for now since they are private people and you don't really know them.</p> <p>I found out that an older man who lives on our floor (3 apartments) died recently. I've barely ever seen the couple (don't even know their names) and there is a language barrier. I only found out through another neighbor. I did see that someone left a card tucked under their door and thought that was nice and thoughtful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offering-condolences-to-our-neighbor#post-2438941 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 13:53:47 +0000 MaryM 2438941@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: Agreed.</p> <p>that's why I think it'd be good to work with others to work out a sort of schedule. </p> <p>A lot of flowers and meals come right at first. Waiting a week or two or spacing them out more can be more helpful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offering-condolences-to-our-neighbor#post-2438939 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 13:51:26 +0000 gingerbebe 2438939@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think whatever you do now will be thoughtful and appreciated, but I think it would also be really helpful if you think about the "later on" - after all the flowers and cards and casseroles have come and gone. Perhaps you can send a condolence card now and in a month or two, stop by with a meal or a gift certificate and another card that acknowledges that the grieving process is exactly that - a process - and that you wanted to show your support as the family walks through a difficult period. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offering-condolences-to-our-neighbor#post-2438919 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 13:35:50 +0000 mrsjyw 2438919@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were in a similar situation a few years back with one of our neighbors, her hsuband passed after a long battle with cancer and she had no other family living with her in the house but had lots of children and grandchilren who stayed with her on/off and we didn't want to be intrusive. We dropped off flowers and a card in the first few days. And then stopped over a while after to check in and see how she was doing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offering-condolences-to-our-neighbor#post-2438900 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 13:25:24 +0000 MaryM 2438900@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If the neighborhood is close, can you see if everyone can work out something together? Maybe one family does flowers, another breakfast, another dinner (or each family does one day of dinner for a while), etc?</p> <p>then if someone has their cell number, leave the package, and then text once you're home to let them know it's there. </p> <p>I had neighbors do that with flowers after we lost my daughter and I respected that they respected our privacy and just left things for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offering-condolences-to-our-neighbor#post-2438871 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 13:06:17 +0000 Mamaof2 2438871@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlejoy: I would knock and just keep it short - so sorry for your loss - I wanted to bring this by - If you need anything let me know and then leave. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offering-condolences-to-our-neighbor#post-2438870 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 13:05:29 +0000 littlejoy 2438870@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For everyone mentioning the basket/food ... Should I just leave it on the porch, or should I knock &amp; give it to them? I really want to respect her space. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offering-condolences-to-our-neighbor#post-2438865 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 13:04:13 +0000 Mamaof2 2438865@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlejoy: when my grandmother passed away me and my mom and siblings were at her house trying to get everything in order and mom's neighbor came over with a huge breakfast tray with bagels, muffins, and cream cheese, and donuts. Then she told us lunch would be delivered later that day - it was AWESOME!!!</p> <p>The last thing we felt like doing was cooking and that food was so appreciative! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offering-condolences-to-our-neighbor#post-2438860 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 13:01:07 +0000 nana87 2438860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlejoy: offering to walk her dog in the card would be much appreciated I'm sure! My fil passed away last minute month and offers from neighbors to help my mil with the yard or other house issues have been very appreciated </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offering-condolences-to-our-neighbor#post-2438852 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 12:55:10 +0000 deerylou 2438852@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlejoy: Of course! I think it's kind that your neighborhood is trying to be so supportive. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offering-condolences-to-our-neighbor#post-2438849 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 12:53:03 +0000 littlejoy 2438849@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@deerylou: Wow. That's really, really special. Thanks for sharing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offering-condolences-to-our-neighbor#post-2438841 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 12:51:16 +0000 deerylou 2438841@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My father passed away, last summer. One of my mom's neighbors brought over a card with a gift certificate to a local restaurant. She wrote that once we tired of casseroles and felt ready, she hoped we could go out to dinner as a family and share memories of my beloved dad, over a nice meal. It was a lovely sentiment and ended up being really needed. While freezer meals and flowers were really sweet, it was nice to have that "permission" to get out of the house. She just left it in my mom's mailbox, so it was very non-intrusive. You could always have other neighbors pitch in on this, too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offering-condolences-to-our-neighbor#post-2438837 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 12:48:29 +0000 Maysprout 2438837@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The Jazz contribution is so thoughtful and I'm sure will be very touching. A card and a bit of food is probably good in the meantime </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offering-condolences-to-our-neighbor#post-2438829 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 12:45:04 +0000 littlejoy 2438829@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Charm54: That's a really, really good idea. Thank you! ... Especially if her kids are going to school right now, grab &amp; go would probably be helpful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offering-condolences-to-our-neighbor#post-2438828 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 12:44:32 +0000 littlejoy 2438828@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Autumnmama79: I agree about the blur of grief ... so hard.</p> <p>We are really blessed to live where we do. Even though I don't know this neighbor super well, she's taken care of our yard when we're on vacation (and vice versa), and we've traded pet sitting. I thought about asking if I could take her dogs on a walk for her ... maybe I'll mention it in the card. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offering-condolences-to-our-neighbor#post-2438819 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 12:37:54 +0000 Autumnmama79 2438819@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh boy, thats really sad. I think a card and a basket of snacks would be really thoughtful, they're probably in a blur of grief right now so food would be appreciated. The contribution to the jazz program is very kind. </p> <p>How wonderful to have close knit neighbourhood to support the family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offering-condolences-to-our-neighbor#post-2438817 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 12:35:57 +0000 Charm54 2438817@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like to do a breakfast basket - bagels, fruit, juice; pastries, etc. It's a little bit different than lasagna but still easy to throw together </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offering-condolences-to-our-neighbor#post-2438810 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 12:32:34 +0000 littlejoy 2438810@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our neighbor's husband passed away last weekend, after a long battle with cancer. We aren't super close to them, but our street is pretty close-knit in general &amp; friendly, so of course I'd like to reach out. I'm wondering how to offer condolences, without being invasive. </p> <p>Should I drop off food (in freezer ready containers)? Leave a card? If I leave food, do I just assume no one has food allergies? Maybe a basket of snacks? I'm at a loss ... </p> <p>Another neighbor (who I'm very close to) mentioned that the family (they have 4 young sons) is pretty private, and would like this time respected, which means no visitors. I do know that the husband was a jazz musician since the 70's, so us neighbors will be making a contribution to a youth jazz program in his honor. </p>