I wrote
this question about my Aunt. As it turned out, I just wrote back a very polite reply -- "thank you for your good wishes" ...I was polite. I felt good about this. Thank you for all the helpful answers.
My Aunt wrote me again -- long story inside. Thank you for taking the time to read it.
[more inside]
posted by Lescha
on Mar 26, 2013 -
26 answers
Can signing an 'Authorization For Cremation' form somehow make me responsible for my deceased father's debt?
[more inside]
posted by KevinSkomsvold
on Mar 25, 2013 -
15 answers
It appears my Dad is in the process of dying - I'm mostly okay with that, but really struggling with the rest of my family. Could use some words of wisdom.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Feb 12, 2013 -
21 answers
My mother and father were married over 50 years. Dad passed early this year (Feb) and now is the 1st anniversary is upon us. I have been helping mom out quite a bit since then, but could use some pointers about what to do or look out for over the next couple of months. A little more inside.
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posted by anonymous
on Dec 16, 2012 -
6 answers
My estranged father passed away last Sunday. I've decided to attend the funeral. Please help me conduct myself with something resembling grace. Overly complex snowflakey stuff inside.
[more inside]
posted by Ephelump Jockey
on Jul 31, 2012 -
23 answers
My (beloved) mother-in-law died after a year with lung cancer and we will be having a big memorial for her this weekend. What can we do to capture stories and memories from her family and friends?
[more inside]
posted by Alison
on Jul 31, 2012 -
7 answers
My father passed away recently. We were estranged and I feel really strange about how his family handled his passing. I'm looking for advice about contacting them, or just leaving things be. Help!
[more inside]
posted by carmenghia
on Jan 24, 2012 -
25 answers
What's the legal liability ramifications of owning half a house? (I already have a lawyer. I wanted a second/English opinion.)
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Dec 28, 2011 -
17 answers
We were going to elope to Las Vegas in less than two weeks, but my sister just passed away. I didn't have a close relationship with my sister. Is the timing of the wedding bad?
[more inside]
posted by zosime
on Aug 26, 2011 -
21 answers
How can I comfort the loved ones of a dying person I don't like? And the dying person themselves? Snowflake details inside.
[more inside]
posted by katyggls
on Aug 19, 2011 -
26 answers
What happens and what to do when I hear my mom dies 1,500+ miles away. What will the landlord do in the short term? Where does her body go? What happens to the cat? The medical bills? How do I unload fine art?
[more inside]
posted by AnOrigamiLife
on Jul 27, 2011 -
26 answers
My father unexpectedly passed away last weekend from a heart attack. I am not religious. Part of my family, and most of our community of friends & extended family, are. Help me navigate the religious talk without either going on the defensive, or being complacent.
[more inside]
posted by raztaj
on Jul 20, 2011 -
8 answers
How do I stop feeling responsible to my family for keeping myself safe and guitly for taking risks?
[more inside]
posted by Chrysalis
on Apr 26, 2011 -
19 answers
There will soon be a death in my family. I'm worried this one's going to be especially hard and I'm not sure what to do.
[more inside]
posted by EatTheWeak
on Apr 19, 2011 -
19 answers
Could you help my friend find a poem to comfort the family of a friend who has just died?
The young man had gone through some bumps in his life and was just starting to turn it around, and then, tragically, he died an accidental death.
She’s looking for something fairly short (under 10 lines), modern, nothing too literary, and something that celebrates the immortality of family love.
I’ve looked on previous Ask MeFi posts, but most of the poems I see there are unsuitable for various reasons. She doesn’t want anything tailored to a funeral; she would like to send this poem directly to the family for them to reread in the coming months (perhaps put on a fridge to turn to for comfort).
posted by Amy NM
on Mar 24, 2011 -
19 answers
Funeral Question: So my grandmother died. The wake is on Thursday and the funeral is on Friday. I've never been to a funeral before and not any Catholic services before. What's expected of me? What can do to help? Or at least not make things worse?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Mar 21, 2011 -
32 answers
Dad is on life support. He has no advance directive/living will. How do we make end-of-life decisions when none of us are capable of thinking clearly?
[more inside]
posted by kella
on Dec 24, 2010 -
23 answers
I need to find out how my father died. It's not possible for me to contact relatives to get this information. Please help.
[more inside]
posted by MiaWallace
on Sep 27, 2010 -
16 answers
Because of the death of my mother just before finals I have an extension on three essays from one class-- that I've put off the entire summer. Should I brace myself and write them, or do I tell the professor that I just want the last semester to disappear even if I receive an F grade?
[more inside]
posted by SallySpades
on Aug 16, 2010 -
20 answers
I can't stop feeling guilty about not being able to visit sick family members or help them more. I'm scared of others dying or being sick.
[more inside]
posted by KogeLiz
on Aug 12, 2010 -
5 answers
Sadly I lost a friend to a long battle with cancer last night, her husband and teenage children are without any extended family in the area and will rely on some of us for the next while. Two things:
1 - Can you tell me of things that friends and family have done for you in similar circumstances that really helped at the time: large, small, immediately, over days, weeks, months, whatever. We'll sort out food, the pets and cleaning the house but what else can we do?
2 - Any advice on striking the right balance between giving them their space to grieve and being there to support to them?
posted by HopStopDon'tShop
on Mar 21, 2010 -
22 answers
Both of my wife's parents died. Her dad first in January, now her mom in September. My wife is the oldest child. No will was left. What do we do?
[more inside]
posted by Bageena
on Nov 18, 2009 -
24 answers
Facing death: I have received a medical estimate of dying within a year, but this is known only to me (within my circle of family and friends, including my wife). I am so lost as to how to break the news in a caring, non-stressful way.
[more inside]
posted by potato
on Sep 7, 2009 -
37 answers
My grandmother died this morning. I'm going home to help out the family, but I would like to make a list of things I might not remember before I leave so that we don't forget anything.
[more inside]
posted by Unicorn on the cob
on Aug 12, 2009 -
23 answers
My uncle has one week to live. I'm visiting him tomorrow. What am I supposed to say? What am I supposed to do?
posted by jennyhead
on Apr 21, 2009 -
19 answers
Coming-of-age Filter: My world is coming crashing down. Is this a sign? Should I just soldier on? How? Trying to be a rock-em sock-em robot and get back on the horse. Details inside.
[more inside]
posted by big open mouth
on Mar 11, 2009 -
37 answers
Cousin Zach is a sweetheart, but I don't have the time or inclincation to attend everything he invites us to. How to say no tactfully? Guilt is involved.
[more inside]
posted by frosty_hut
on Jan 27, 2009 -
21 answers
I can't stop obsessing about my parents' mortality. Yes, I will probably seek therapy at some point, but for now it would be nice just to hear how others have dealt with this.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Oct 13, 2008 -
16 answers
The new normal sucks. How am I supposed to cope after my father's suddenish death?
[more inside]
posted by bash
on May 19, 2008 -
29 answers
My dad is dying, but how do I know how quickly, and how do I know which "scares" I should travel across the country for?
[more inside]
posted by bash
on Mar 26, 2008 -
31 answers
Two years ago, my grandfather suffered a rare stroke in his brain stem that rendered him in what could only be called a waking coma. Think
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly but without any capability of communicating. He died two weeks ago in Israel, where he lived with my grandmother.
[more inside]
posted by bondgirl53001
on Feb 1, 2008 -
20 answers
Would it be worthwhile to preserve a sample of my parents' DNA, with their permission, in case I ever need it for genetic testing of myself or my family?
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 26, 2008 -
9 answers
Earlier this year, my cousin shot himself. I'd been estranged from him for several years, but we used to be close. How do I go about getting information about his death and about the last few years of his life?
[more inside]
posted by desjardins
on Dec 28, 2007 -
7 answers
I've reached my late 20s without ever facing death. How do I deal with death when I know I will face it sooner or later?
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posted by anonymous
on Dec 10, 2007 -
25 answers
How do I tactfully avoid having to accompany people to the casket at a family member's funeral?
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posted by anonymous
on Sep 6, 2007 -
17 answers
Are there any books you think a smart, grieving preteen would find comforting or of use? More details inside.
[more inside]
posted by Ash3000
on Dec 17, 2006 -
15 answers
