I am a (new) professor at a small, rural university. One of my students has had to take an emergency leave due to a death in their family. Aside from assuring them that they need not think about their schoolwork at all, and that we'll work it out when they're ready, is there anything else I can do to support them? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 26, 2013 - 19 answers

I lost my dear dad unexpectedly Sunday after a series of illnesses. My mom, luckily, is still with us. They were together 54 years and my mom was only 17 when they met. The most important thing to my dad was my mom's well-being and I feel it is now my duty to look after her to the best of my ability. I have no idea how to help her cope with the loss of my father. I want to be there for her as much as possible, but I don't want to smother her. Does anyone have any advice?
posted by entropicamericana on Nov 23, 2012 - 18 answers

The mother of the family I work for just passed away after a long illness. What can I do to help? [more inside]
posted by nonasuch on Oct 18, 2012 - 9 answers

My father's parents just passed away, two weeks apart exactly. How do I support my dad through this time? [more inside]
posted by dil.emma on Aug 22, 2012 - 8 answers

A friend is about to pass away. Please help me be as supportive and helpful as possible for her husband and young daughter during the next few months. [more inside]
posted by zarq on Aug 23, 2011 - 26 answers

How to support and comfort a friend through the illness/loss of their pets? What helped you? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on May 5, 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

How can I show my boyfriend my love/support on our 5th anniversary - only a couple days after his father's death? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 17, 2011 - 10 answers

My friend's dad just passed away. How can I help him? What can I do? I live couple thousand miles away from where he is. Can you give me some suggestions? Is it bad if I start compiling list of government agencies or funeral homes for them to call? What else I can do?
posted by Carius on Jan 2, 2011 - 16 answers

How do I help my boyfriend through a death in his family? (Longish, apologies) [more inside]
posted by anonymous on May 17, 2010 - 7 answers

My mother is going to die and my boyfriend is barely able to provide the support I need. How do I deal with this? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Mar 28, 2010 - 26 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

What to do for friends with a dying child? [more inside]
posted by k8t on Feb 17, 2010 - 10 answers

I would like to help my friends, if I can; two of them are individually dealing with incredibly stressful and sad health-related situations related to their parents. [more inside]
posted by taz on Aug 8, 2009 - 7 answers

What can I say when my boyfriend gets scared about his Dad dying? [more inside]
posted by trampesque on Feb 9, 2009 - 12 answers

Angst and melancholy aside, I persistently fear that I will never be able to happily integrate into society. I know I need help, but I can’t figure out how to overcome my negative emotions and in succumbing to them I only feed into my cycle of avoidance and disappointment. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 3, 2008 - 14 answers

What kinds of things can/should I do for my Mother, upon the death of her sister (my Aunt), in order to make her more at ease, both now, and over the ensuing months/years? [more inside]
posted by segatakai on Aug 24, 2008 - 7 answers

My friend from childhood - who I haven't really kept up with much even though we live in the same neighborhood - woke up one morning to discover his wife of less than 3 years was unconscious. She is in a coma and it's not clear if she'll ever wake up. They have one kid. How do I offer my support? [more inside]
posted by seatofmypants on Jun 22, 2008 - 20 answers

My office manager just emailed me that detectives will be visiting my office mate soon. According to the message, "There has been a death. That is all I know and I was told not to say anything to her." What do I do? [more inside]
posted by apocry_phil on Dec 6, 2006 - 21 answers

My friend's father just died after a very short battle with cancer. My friend's sometimes a little unstable. What can I do? [more inside]
posted by MeetMegan on Sep 4, 2006 - 15 answers

How can you help a dog deal with the loneliness after the death of a sibling? [more inside]
posted by monsta coty scott on Jun 6, 2005 - 7 answers

Tonight the father of a close friend of mine passed away. In the last month this is the third relative he has lost and his mother is in cancer treatement : more inside [more inside]
posted by elpapacito on Jan 11, 2005 - 11 answers