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Family bereavement etiquette

30 replies

cherrypied · 25/10/2025 10:14

DH grandmother has died in her late 90s after a long illness and slow terrible decline.

I’m close to MIL. I’ve spoken to her and will see her today.

in this situation I don’t know whether to send a card or flowers to MIL as it’s family we are also bereaved but I want mil to know I am thinking of her all the time.

DH has no emotions at all but that is another thread

OP posts:
bugalugs45 · 26/10/2025 08:00

Bit late now as you’ve obviously seen her, but i remember a work colleague saying please don’t bring me flowers , my
house already looks like a florists , so agree biscuits are great idea

Bluenan · 26/10/2025 08:02

My friend bought me a beautiful rose bush when I lost my son 🩵

Thisismyalterego · 26/10/2025 08:13

I understand why people might not want flowers, though I confess, I did send flowers to my lovely DIL when her mum died. i do usually send a card. My own experience has been that I may not read them at the time, but when I have felt able to, I have found comfort in reading them, especially if the sender has included a particular memory of my loved one.
OP, I would say go with your instincts. You know your MIL and what she would appreciate. And as someone up thread said , look out for your DH. Mine has recently become the oldest living member of his entire family and has found that hard to deal with.

WoahWoahandThriceWoah · 26/10/2025 08:53

sarahjkl82 · 25/10/2025 12:37

No flowers or cards as she will be inundated - if you live close by, show her by doing things for her. Fill her freezer with easy meals. Do some of her washing/ironing for her. Her house will be filled with flowers but she will need physical support through this time.

If everyone thought like this she would be inundated with ....nothing 🤷‍♀️
Personally I like to give/receive flowers, if I am buying them for someone who has suffered a loss I get the ones that are already set up in water so they don't have to worry about vases.
If your MIL is someone who normally likes to receive flowers then I would go ahead and get her some.
I wouldn't say anything but I wouldn't really appreciate 'a meal to put in the oven later' because I might not fancy lasagne/casserole/spag bol etc and I would feel like I had to eat it or freeze it (and ignore it) or it would go to waste.

cherrypied · 26/10/2025 17:21

For clarification I ordered some bare root roses in grandmas name that will be delivered in November.

I will buy three nice pots and pot them up and bring them on a bit over winter and they will be gifted in June time

OP posts:
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