Not been informed of a bereavement.

Everything moves at a much faster pace these days thanks to social media. When DD died in the early hours of 18th May, our grandsons announced it on facebook that morning because they had set up a 'just giving' page for the hospice. All well and good but there were close relatives I hadn't had time to contact who were shocked to turn on their phones/laptops and see the news....So were we!

I don't think people are deliberately being thoughtless. It certainly does away with the heartbreaking phone calls of the past but what's wrong with copying and pasting a personal message to your loved ones? It meant mine had to begin with, 'I'm so sorry you've already seen this'

It seems to be the way of the world now.

Too many weather forecasts? Does anyone else think there are too many weather forecasts on TV? They seem to use them as fillers.

I think my nephew ‘s Wife was very embarrassed the other day when he emailed me somewhat “brusquely” (but not actually rudely) to request some pictures of his mother my sister in her childhood. But no “How are you, what are the girls doing “etc which I might have started with as I hadn’t heard from him for 20 years.
All that side of the family (my sister, BIL and their 3 children and their families) live in Canada and although he and his wife have stayed with us, it was in fact over 20 years ago.
When I replied that I would do my best but they were “somewhere” on the “big” Mac and I wasn’t really familiar with all the ins and outs as it had been primarily Paw’s computer but I would do my best.
A day’s silence and then a very sweet email from his wife to say they had not heard about Paw and how sorry they were etc plus some welcome family news, and the promise of keeping in touch. I felt for her because it is not nice to feel you might have offended.
However, I find it hard to believe that my sister omitted to tell them he had died!
My point is, sometimes you hope you are able to rely on the family or friends’ grapevine - FB isn’t for everyone and long phone conversations too difficult.

I can understand you are upset SueSocks but don't take offence at the omission. People often assume that everyone has access to FB which is not the case. There is so much to do when a family member dies things do get missed. I would write to the family expressing your sympathy and explain that you had not heard.

We have a local weekly newspaper which keeps everyone informed of someone's death and I've had a few shocks this year of those who I'd known over the years with one in particular not so long ago where I actually sent a card and donation c/o the funeral director. I'd attended primary school with the husband of the deceased.

I could well have felt embarrassed had I not known.

Contacting other people about the death of someone to whom you were very close, especially if you are also making funeral arrangements, is difficult and demanding in terms of both time and emotion. It also often involves long telephone conversations about the person who has died which can be quite hard when you are newly bereaved yourself.

I was an executor for one of my aunts and thought I had got everything well organised about the funeral and notifications of death until I realised that I had not recognised the new married surname of my cousin's widow in my late aunt's address book and had sent her a notification letter when she she had actually already attended the funeral. I was hugely embarrassed and she was very gracious when I apologised.

Sometimes it's hard for the remaining family members to work out who to contact / what their contact details are. It seems that your husband's nephew was the person who would be doing the contacting, and these days it's quite common for young people to do a Facebook announcement for family happenings.

I can't say I blame them - contacting multiple friends and family at that time can be a nightmare. I remember going through my parent's phone contact books and spending hours ringing numbers which were either not answering or not even connected any more.

The fact that you got on OK with the brother-in-law doesn't mean that his son would know to call you. Maybe he thought that since "everyone is on Facebook" these days, a Facebook announcement would cover everyone.

I wouldn't take offense at this - poor man is probably snowed under.

It might be a good reminder to get a Facebook account - it really is a great way to share family information.