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My son recently passed away during an operation unexpectedly. His entire school went to the funeral. How do I thank them?

–Sad in West Virginia

Attending a classmate’s funeral helps your son’s friends and classmates to cope with their loss. Children’s attendance at funerals educates them to recognize the importance of being part of a community.

Children should be included in all aspects of family rituals and their school is an extension of their family. It is not necessary for you to thank your son’s schoolmates, but you can certainly do so in several ways.

The family of John Wilson

deeply appreciates your

sympathy and is grateful

for your thoughtfulness

You definitely could have an acknowledgement posted on the school bulletin board using the wording shown above, but inserting your son’s name.

Additionally, you could raise funds to provide the school with something  it needs such as a bicycle rack, the replacement of a tree on the property, a new basket ball hoop, books for the library in which you could place a bookplate (see bookplateink.com) in each of the books like the one below that would say:  In memory of John Wilson (inserting your son’s name).

Having children’s attendance at funerals teaches them that a funeral plays an important role in their mourning and helps them see death as a fact of life.

~Didi