Month: April 2008

Over the years I have sent many sympathy cards to family, friends and colleagues as well as business sympathy cards to acquaintances at work. I’ve never really given much thought to how these greeting cards are received or the words that are expressed inside of them. That is until I was on the receiving end; Two years ago I lost my husband of thirty-two years very suddenly.

After the shock of that experience wore off, I had the opportunity to go through all the greeting cards, condolence notecards, and flower cards that were sent immediately after his death. While the words of love and sympathy that were expressed by family and friends were very much welcome, it was some of the sympathy cards and notes that I received from total strangers that made some of the most lasting impressions. These greeting cards were from people that I had never met, but that my husband had dealings with in his job. I’ve always thought of my husband as a very honest, kind and ethical person. To have strangers confirm in these greeting cards what I have always known was very comforting. To know that he made a lasting impression in people’s lives makes my children and me very proud.