Watching a friend grieve is never easy. You want to offer help, support them in their time of pain, but don’t how to approach the situation. At Charles J. O’Shea Funeral Home, we have seen many friends offer their full support to grieving individuals. It’s not as difficult as most people believe, but you should keep an eye out for signs of distress. Here are a few tips that can help:

1. Offer Help Only If You Can Give It

Many people make empty promises and can’t offer assistance when their friends truly need it. It’s easy to say “you can call me in the middle of the night if you need help”, but it’s far more difficult to do it. Real, genuine offers for help do more than people realize, which is why it’s a good idea to think about how much you can help before offering.

2. Give Them Space if Needed

Sometimes grieving individuals need a shoulder to cry on while at other times they need to be left alone. It’s important to accept their wishes on such matters instead of crowding them. Study their reactions to your offer and take what your friend says into consideration.

3. Be the Distraction

Family can be overwhelming during the grieving period and many are forced to disregard their own pain to help others. Friends can be a big relief in such circumstances, offering a break from responsibilities. You can be an unbiased party solidly in their corner, allowing them to focus on their pain and thoughts instead of someone else’s.

4. Listen

The most important way to help is to listen. Let them rage, cry, complain, and share their pain with you. That can help in times of intense sadness.

If you want to know more about funeral services, don’t hesitate to contact us at Charles J. O’Shea Funeral Home. We’ll be happy to answer your questions.