https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 18 Apr 2026 20:11:42 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-doget-for-a-coworker-who-suddenly-lost-his-wife#post-1875391 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 10:01:02 +0000 Ms.SK 1875391@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Something similar happened to a co-worker and we collected money to send them on vacation. It gave them something positive to look forward to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-doget-for-a-coworker-who-suddenly-lost-his-wife#post-1875294 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 08:39:11 +0000 Maysprout 1875294@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd do food or money. A cleaning service could be bad if they're not ready for some things she touched to be cleaned. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-doget-for-a-coworker-who-suddenly-lost-his-wife#post-1875263 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 08:22:38 +0000 looch 1875263@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do they have family in the area? If this happened to me, for example, it would be a total waste to send us food, because I have my parents in town. </p> <p>I think the best thing to do is attend the wake (if there is one), and send an arrangement. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-doget-for-a-coworker-who-suddenly-lost-his-wife#post-1875257 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 08:19:02 +0000 Anagram 1875257@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with meal delivery (in an organized fashion, so several meals don't come on the same day). Cards are nice, too. </p> <p>For the meal delivery--try to cover dinner and some breakfasts, too--like breakfast casseroles. What an awful, terrible situation.</p> <p>Agree with PPs, that the meals should be dropped of quickly--no lingering, inviting yourself in, or talking for a long time. If people want to band together and buy a cleaning service, that would be helpful, too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-doget-for-a-coworker-who-suddenly-lost-his-wife#post-1875248 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 08:12:40 +0000 brady80 1875248@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When our friend lost her husband suddenly, someone set up a website to bring over food but also help with household things. There was a calendar and people were able to put in what they were bringing so the family so they didn't get repeats. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-doget-for-a-coworker-who-suddenly-lost-his-wife#post-1875234 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 08:03:55 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 1875234@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thoughtful cards that come from each of you individually, food service/ meal coordination that starts in a month or two, attending the funeral &amp; if you want to give money do it at that time- again individully. </p> <p>A coworker lost his wife &amp; only child in a murder suicide. I didn't know him very well, but had to host him and another person all day within the week of the tragedy. I didn't know what to say or do, my manager told me not to cancel. Clearly he wanted to work and get back to a sense of normalcy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-doget-for-a-coworker-who-suddenly-lost-his-wife#post-1875232 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 08:03:28 +0000 LuLu Mom 1875232@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like the gift card idea, when a coworker's baby suddenly passed away with SIDS we all donated money but then went shopping at Target and stocked up on household items knowing they would have a lot of company. Toilet paper, paper towels, paper plates/cups/ect., hand soup, laundry detergent, items for her other young child, ect. She really appreciated since she was unprepared to be hosting that many people so many nights in a row. We also gave gift cards to local food places close to where she lives &amp; to the grocery store. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-doget-for-a-coworker-who-suddenly-lost-his-wife#post-1875231 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 08:02:31 +0000 Bluebonnet 1875231@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the ideas to help with meals and cleaning are great. If people wanted to give money, you could put it in a college fund for the twins. </p> <p>If you were looking for something more personal and sentimental, I think a tree or a flowering bush makes a great gift. That way, it is a reminder in years to come. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-doget-for-a-coworker-who-suddenly-lost-his-wife#post-1875221 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 07:55:44 +0000 blackbird 1875221@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think coordinated food is the way to go. Or even hiring someone to come clean their house every couple of weeks. People bring food a lot for a few weeks, then in a month, when they're still grieving, there's no food. Sandwich trays are great to keep around for lunch. Maybe the office can plant something (a tree, etc, with a plaque) in her memory at the office. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-doget-for-a-coworker-who-suddenly-lost-his-wife#post-1875216 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 07:52:42 +0000 edelweiss 1875216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>something similar happened in my office--i'm so sorry for your coworker and his kids. people organized bringing over meals, some of us paid for the funeral reception, and we took up a collection to give her cash. i know cash seems kind of impersonal but we thought it would give our coworker the most flexibility. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-doget-for-a-coworker-who-suddenly-lost-his-wife#post-1875204 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 07:45:16 +0000 Cole 1875204@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love the amazon order of household basics. I also agree that sending food in some way or another over the next few weeks/months as opposed to immediately would likely be most helpful.</p> <p>If people are torn about gift cards vs home cooked meals maybe offer to have people pair up for a meal train type of thing. Two people could split the cost of a gift card or one could do a large entree and the other could do sides and dessert or something like that. </p> <p>When my father passed away though my favorite thing by far was cards with memories written in them so if you have any sweet or funny memories of her- even just noting that she was so proud when she told us about X that the kids did, it will probably be a big comfort. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-doget-for-a-coworker-who-suddenly-lost-his-wife#post-1875079 Tue, 23 Sep 2014 22:43:29 +0000 Ms.Badger 1875079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would say the most helpful for us was meals, my boss sent over (way too much) food and it was so nice not having to go out to shop or to eat. I really would not have appreciated seeing people who I hadn't invited over even for cleaning help, sometimes you just don't want to see anyone. You could even set up an amazon delivery with other necessary household goods. I also really appreciated cards it was a way to tell me that everyone cared about me and loved my LO. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-doget-for-a-coworker-who-suddenly-lost-his-wife#post-1875076 Tue, 23 Sep 2014 22:37:33 +0000 ScarletBegonia 1875076@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Gosh how devastating :( My mom lost her father when she was 13, and she has said that going out to see movies was a great relief - not having to talk to anyone for a little while and being able to lose herself in the stories. Thinking about it, it would seem a bit weird to buy them movie vouchers...but at the age of 65 its the one thing my mom has told me several times was the most helpful thing when her father passed away, so it obviously had an impact on her. Other than that - dropping by the house to tidy up, meals and DVDs? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-doget-for-a-coworker-who-suddenly-lost-his-wife#post-1875075 Tue, 23 Sep 2014 22:33:23 +0000 mrbee 1875075@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyBoecksMom: Maybe the office could coordinate bringing meals over?</p> <p><a href="https://www.takethemameal.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.takethemameal.com/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-doget-for-a-coworker-who-suddenly-lost-his-wife#post-1875072 Tue, 23 Sep 2014 22:23:51 +0000 2PeasinaPod 1875072@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think everyone signing up to bring him food on a schedule is a perfect idea. So so sorry to hear of his loss. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-doget-for-a-coworker-who-suddenly-lost-his-wife#post-1875068 Tue, 23 Sep 2014 22:21:36 +0000 kick641 1875068@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the food delivery service idea/bringing food over is more helpful than restaurant gift cards? I was a teenager when one of my parents died, and no one felt like doing anything for weeks. Sometimes we wouldn't even bother microwaving the casseroles before eating them, but I really appreciated having food at hand when I was hungry. I couldn't imagine one of us picking out food and calling it in for delivery, much less going out to eat somewhere in that condition. If you know they are foodie kind of people though they might appreciate it.</p> <p>To be quite honest, we were given cash, too, and that helped a lot with funeral costs and was much appreciated. I think heartfelt cards were the best. I also remember being given a "how to deal with grief" type of book aimed at teenagers, and that was also helpful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-doget-for-a-coworker-who-suddenly-lost-his-wife#post-1875053 Tue, 23 Sep 2014 21:47:53 +0000 Freckles 1875053@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How awful! I agree that a grocery or food delivery service would be very thoughtful and more useful than just money. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-doget-for-a-coworker-who-suddenly-lost-his-wife#post-1875050 Tue, 23 Sep 2014 21:44:47 +0000 derevival 1875050@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What about hiring a cleaning service? Also, maybe consider spacing out the gift cards, etc. I bet their family and friends will help in the first few weeks, so having something for them later would probably be nice. How sad...so sorry to hear this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-doget-for-a-coworker-who-suddenly-lost-his-wife#post-1875048 Tue, 23 Sep 2014 21:43:24 +0000 Mrs squirreld 1875048@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How horrible &amp; devastating... I think a type of voucher for home delivery service for food, groceries, or even house cleaning. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-doget-for-a-coworker-who-suddenly-lost-his-wife#post-1875046 Tue, 23 Sep 2014 21:41:37 +0000 ALV91711 1875046@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think anything to help out such as bringing food, restaurant gift cards, groceries are good ideas. That is the last thing they need to think of right now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-doget-for-a-coworker-who-suddenly-lost-his-wife#post-1875045 Tue, 23 Sep 2014 21:38:18 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 1875045@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our whole (small) department is devastated. His wife was up at work on Friday and we were all chatting. She passed away this morning after having emergency surgery for a ruptured cyst yesterday, leaving my coworker and their twin 13 yr olds behind. Some people were talking about collecting money and giving it to him, but I think it should be a little more personal than that. </p> <p>I was thinking of putting the money into gift cards for restaurants or having people sign up to bring food, but that's all I could think of. </p> <p>Any other ideas? </p>