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Thank you notes for sympathy cards?  

post #1 of 7
12/14/07 at 4:44pm
Thread Starter 
Do you send thank yous for sympathy cards? My mom is who would know these things and obviously she's no longer with us to keep us straight on etiquette. <sigh>
post #2 of 7
12/14/07 at 4:55pm
I am sorry for your loss

If the condolence was hand written or contained a personal note, it is proper to acknowledge it with a handwritten response. A preprinted card with simple signature it is not considered necessary. Thoughtful people who also know etiquette may state "no response is expected" or something along those lines. There is no time limit, just whenever one is comfortable doing so.

So, the formal answer is yes.

I cannot imagine, however, understanding friends loved ones expecting thank yous for condolence cards from grieving people, and am sure not getting a thank you wouldn't be offensive to most people.
post #3 of 7
12/14/07 at 8:37pm
We just went through this. It took us over two months to even think about doing the thank you cards, and even then it felt like a weight around our hearts.

We chose to send thank you notes to people who had given a gift, a donation, or were personally involved with the memorial service. We did not send thank you cards to people who had just sent a card or written a note.

I don't feel that there are "rules," even of etiquette, when it comes to mourning. You should do what you feel is right, and leave it at that.
post #4 of 7
12/14/07 at 9:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by RedOakMomma View Post
I don't feel that there are "rules," even of etiquette, when it comes to mourning.
Ditto to the above.
post #5 of 7
12/14/07 at 9:26pm
Do what you think you can...
post #6 of 7
12/15/07 at 12:30am
There aren't any rules IMO.

Do whatever feels helpful for you.

I just finished sending out thank yous. It was my goal to have them all done by the first anniversary of Sebastian's death, and I did it. I know that no one was expecting a thank you by that time, but it was important to me to do it.
post #7 of 7
12/15/07 at 2:00am
Sorry for your loss.

I've only ever received printed notes acknowledging Mass cards or flowers, not for "just" sending a card.
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