Proper Etiquette for Thank You Notes for Funerals

The outpouring of love and help you receive in the aftermath of a loss can be as overwhelming as it is appreciated. After a funeral, the prospect of thanking everyone might seem impossible. While you don't need to reach out to everyone who comes to the funeral or sends a sympathy card, it's proper etiquette to send a short thank you note to anyone who offered extraordinary support.

People who deserve a thank you note after a funeral include pallbearers, friends who send flowers and gifts, anyone who contributes money to a charity in memory of the deceased and the funeral service officiant. If a neighbor, close friend or a member of your extended family has delivered food to your house, offered to babysit your kids while you visit with the funeral director or been otherwise thoughtful, he should also get a thank you note.

No strict time frame exists for when the thank you note must be sent, but certainly you should try to send the notes as soon as possible. If a considerable amount of time passes, such as two or three months, acknowledge the time lapse in the note. For instance, you may begin the thank you with "I'm sorry there was such a delay in sending this card, but thank you... ."

Handwritten notes are the best way to offer a thank you for offerings of sympathy, according to Emily Post. While it's acceptable to use a printed card from a funeral home or other source, you should add a personalized, handwritten note on the card or with the card. The thank you only needs to be two to three lines long.

Since expressions of sympathy are typically personal in nature, your thank you note can be pretty informal. For instance, address the recipient by first name or the nickname you usually call him and not by his full name. Thank you notes should be sincere and personal, not as if written by a formula, so focus on expressing what's in your heart over all else.