When someone you care about suffers the loss of a loved one, it’s sometimes hard to know how best to help them. From making funeral arrangements to attending to the deceased’s estate, they may have many responsibilities that are challenging to address in the midst of their grief. Doing what you can to lighten their load will help them immensely. Below are four useful ways to help a grieving friend.

How to Support Someone Who’s Mourning

1. Deliver Food

Your grieving loved one likely doesn’t have the time, desire, or energy to cook. Lighten this burden by bringing them food. Pick up take-out on your way over or prepare a nutritious, satisfying, and easily reheated casserole. Better yet, offer to cook for them in their home – they may appreciate the companionship. While comforting stews and savory pies are common choices, lighter sandwiches, snacks, desserts, and drinks may also be useful. 

2. Watch Their Children or Pets

Your loved one needs a quiet place to handle legal matters and funeral arrangements without interruption. If they have children, offer to babysit for a few days. If they have pets, offer to take them for walks or temporarily board them at your home. This will give your loved one and their family a potentially much-needed break. 

3. Offer to Help With Funeral Arrangements

Detail and thought go into making funeral arrangements. While many people may prefer to handle matters themselves, ask if you can help. They may ask you to speak with local funeral homes about pricing and specialty services to help them find the best option, or collaborate with them to plan unique memorial services to honor the deceased. Help on the day of the funeral, too, by assisting with setting up the reception, directing traffic, and providing emotional support. 

4. Assist With Daily Tasks & Chores

Mundane tasks like grocery shopping and cleaning are hard to complete while coping with loss. Aid your loved one by handling simple errands like checking the mail, taking out the trash, doing the dishes, going grocery shopping, dropping off laundry, and performing other light household chores. 

If you or a loved one are making funeral arrangements, reach out to Jacqueline M. Ryan Home for Funerals in Keansburg, NJ. Their compassionate and qualified staff will ease your burden. From writing a moving obituary to organizing memorial services, they’ll handle all the details, so you can focus on family and grieving. Since 1947, they’ve helped families create unique tributes for their loved ones, with customized memorials such as military salutes and ash-scattering ceremonies available. Learn about their offerings online. Begin making arrangements by calling (732) 787-1177.