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AIBU

What to do on death of a loved one

(67 Posts)
Sashabel Tue 01-Feb-22 14:50:27

Apparently, the first two things to do on the death of a loved on nowadays is to post their demise on every social media website you can find and then set up a funding page to pay for their funeral.
I completely understand the stress caused after a family members death and the worry about the costs of the funeral, especially for those struggling financially, but it seems to be the normal thing to do now regardless.
It's probably worse posting all the details on Facebook, Twitter etc. You read how grief stricken the relatives are, but they have managed to find the time to post all the details for all to see. I maybe stirring up a real hornets nest here, but I just can't understand it.

Namsnanny Wed 02-Feb-22 12:41:08

Blossoming

Namsnanny Gransnet is a social media forum smile

Some people post news of a death on social media because it is a fast way of letting friends and family know. Sometimes the deceased was prominent in their community. There are many reasons for doing this. The GoFundMe appeals are usually created by friends.

We all have our own way of dealing with stuff.

Yes your right. What I should have written is
other than GN I'm not on any forums
I just thought it was self evident, my mistakesmile

eazybee Wed 02-Feb-22 13:13:45

I am sorry that Sashabel has stirred up such a hornet's nest.
I had no idea this happened, because I do not use Facebook.
I make no comment about the crowdfunding.

What is difficult is being unable to discover details of the funeral as few families announce them in the press, and unless you are closely connected to the family or hear by word of mouth it is difficult to contact anyone who does know.
I dislike Facebook and do not wish to join and feel that as with so many things now, (online banking, mobile phones, social media) people are being coerced into using it.

Budge Wed 02-Feb-22 13:38:20

I’m a recent widow, 15 weeks ago, who still struggles. At the time, I wasn’t in the right headspace to make any formal announcements, I’ve no idea if other family members did. I only contacted a handful of people.

eazybee Wed 02-Feb-22 14:19:29

Generally, the undertakers will arrange to place an announcement in the local or national press when the funeral is arranged; they did for me.

Germanshepherdsmum Wed 02-Feb-22 14:33:48

For me too eazybee and there weren’t many I needed to contact anyway. It was the deaths of my parents and I doubt anyone they knew was on FB!

Coastpath Wed 02-Feb-22 14:39:29

I'm very sorry for your loss Budge. These past few months and especially Christmas must have been very tough for you. Gransnet is good company when times are hard isn't it. I'm glad to hear you have family around you and I'll be thinking of you now. flowers

MissAdventure Wed 02-Feb-22 14:40:14

Facebook, or rather the people who took it on themselves to post about my daughters death, caused a,whole extra layer of anguish for me.

The worst of it was that she would have been horrified by it all.

MaggsMcG Wed 02-Feb-22 14:47:12

The first thing I did when my husband died a year ago was contact the DWP coz I didn't want them paying out money they didn't owe me and have to pay it back. On the other hand I did put it on FaceBook but only because it was a much quicker way of getting the information out to the people who mattered to me, my clubs and friends I wasn't seeing as much due to the lockdowns. Any close relatives got the normal telephone call. It sometimes help to get things off your chest. I would never contribute to a strangers funeral.

I found out a few years ago that if a child dies and the parents don't have any money there are organisations that help and in some cases they can get a basic funeral for free.

Ladyleftfieldlover Wed 02-Feb-22 14:57:07

Someone I know has just done that very thing and I don’t condemn her at all. It’s a way of letting a lot of people know and in fact my son’s partner did this when her mother died a few years ago. I quite understand the Go-fund thing too. Funerals are expensive so why not set up an account? Too many people are quick to judge without knowing the full facts.

25Avalon Wed 02-Feb-22 15:01:59

When my son died 16 years ago after suffering a congenital illness for years I wanted everyone who knew or had known him to know. We had to ring round. How much easier to put it on social media. The church was packed for his funeral which I found a great comfort, so please don’t criticise the bereaved who have to find the best means of coping after losing a loved one. We did not need help with funeral costs but if you do I don’t see what is wrong with asking. After all people often ask for contributions for a named charity instead of flowers so why not for the funeral itself if need be?

Ali08 Thu 03-Feb-22 20:03:38

Luckygirl3

I would not presume to judge those who have been bereaved on how they choose to deal with this. We all find our own different ways of coping.

You need to do two things:
- search in your heart for a shred of humanity
- ask for your post to be removed

Today is the second anniversary of my husband's death. I am dealing with it in my own way. I do not need you or anyone else passing judgement.

I'm sorry for your bereavement but, tbf, any one of us could have an anniversary of someone's passing at any time and Sashabe1 most probably didn't know of yours, and therefore did not set out to hurt you, so I think you are being unfair!

Barmeyoldbat Thu 03-Feb-22 20:44:26

My young adult gc did exactly this, they posted on Facebook the death of their mum. I think it helped a great deal with their grief by having so many people contacting them and offering comfort. I also believe that the young are using the medium for communication that they have grown up with rather than putting notices in the paper, after all how many young people look at a paper let alone the death notices, but social media, well it’s quick and reaches everyone who needs to know. I am quite happy with it.

Luckygirl3 Thu 03-Feb-22 20:48:51

Ali08

Luckygirl3

I would not presume to judge those who have been bereaved on how they choose to deal with this. We all find our own different ways of coping.

You need to do two things:
- search in your heart for a shred of humanity
- ask for your post to be removed

Today is the second anniversary of my husband's death. I am dealing with it in my own way. I do not need you or anyone else passing judgement.

I'm sorry for your bereavement but, tbf, any one of us could have an anniversary of someone's passing at any time and Sashabe1 most probably didn't know of yours, and therefore did not set out to hurt you, so I think you are being unfair!

Indeed she did not know this, but that is exactly my point. Her scathing comments had the potential to cause offence to any person on this website who has been bereaved, and of course to those who had used facebook to inform others. Given that this is a site confined to grandparents, inevitably there will be many widows/widowers, so the potential to cause upset is high.

Bridgeit Thu 03-Feb-22 20:53:18

I can’t understand it either, but I suppose times change ,but not necessarily for the better.
Maybe we are just conditioned by the era’s we are born into.

Gwyneth Thu 03-Feb-22 22:19:59

I think the OP has been judged very harshly on here. I don’t feel that Sashabel’s intention was to upset anyone.

MissAdventure Thu 03-Feb-22 22:28:09

I'm sure it wasn't meant to offend.