Etiquette Concerning Memorial Gift Acknowledgements

Though mourning your loss, appropriately acknowledge the kindness of others.
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Something as small as a donation to the deceased's favorite charity or as magnificent as a carved bust in the deceased's image are ways to acknowledge the ways she touched lives. When you're the survivor of someone who made such an impact on others, it's your obligation to acknowledge the memorial gift in a very personal way. A thank-you note is appropriate, but a personal, handwritten acknowledgement is greatly appreciated.

1 Thank-You Notes ... Always

If the deceased had many friends and family, the survivors might just purchase a pack of preprinted thank-you cards for acknowledging sympathy cards, donations and condolences. But when someone goes beyond sending the typical sympathy card or flowers by making a memorial gift in your loved one's name, take the time to write a personal thank-you card. It's acceptable to use the preprinted card, but add to it a handwritten thank-you that expresses how much you appreciate the donor's thoughts and condolences.

Ruth Mayhew has been writing since the mid-1980s, and she has been an HR subject matter expert since 1995. Her work appears in "The Multi-Generational Workforce in the Health Care Industry," and she has been cited in numerous publications, including journals and textbooks that focus on human resources management practices. She holds a Master of Arts in sociology from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Ruth resides in the nation's capital, Washington, D.C.

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