AIBU to be offended by “Mothers day like no other”

[KrystalKendal]

Hi, would love some opinions on this...

I lost my Mum to Covid in April 2020, despite a number of challenges we were able to give her a send off to be proud of at a lovely local cemetery.

Friday 5th of Feb at 7pm, i received a marketing email from the cemetery with the headline “A Mother’s Day like no other”

At first I thought it was some generic marketing, and then I realised it was from the cemetery and that they had directly marketed me not only on my personal data but based on my personal loss. The purpose of the email was to have people do video recordings for them “to pay tribute” but no advice on how it would be shared. Judging by their social platforms it’s likely marketing for their social media dressed up as a tribute.

I don’t recall giving permissions for this and also feel it’s distasteful to have kept a record that they knew it was my mum that had died as some form of marketing data, knowing they hold the date of the funeral being only last year makes the head line and purpose all the more upsetting.

It feels wrong, preying on the vulnerable who are grieving to pull together marketing and the use of “Mother’s Day like no other” is horrendous so i am planning on complaining.

Am I overreacting?
**

This is awful.

The clergy at our local church contact the families of the recently deceased every year to give people the opportunity to say prayers for their loved one. I would think that the social media aspect is new due to COVID-19 and I agree that, due to that, it's insensitive. I would definitely recommend giving feedback, they may not realise how hurtful they're being.

Hi everyone, I just wanted to say thank you so much to all of your kind messages of support. Sorry I haven’t replied sooner, I had a pretty emotional weekend following the email and couldn’t pick myself up. I’ve emailed them to complain, someone was suppose to call me today but they didn’t so will see what happens. Thank you to everyone and hoping you’re all staying safe and as sane as you can. Xx

If you didn't get a decent response I'd speak to the local paper about it. Thats gross.

My husband also wonders if its a GDPR breach to use your data in this manner.

God almighty that is awful. OP

Thank you for your support, I’m so sorry for your loss and I hope you’re doing ok. Please be kind to yourself in this really terrible situation xx

I did mention about GDPR, whilst keeping my name, telephone number and email on record may be acceptable for generic contact, surely keeping a record of the relationship between me and the persons funeral to use it is not allowed. Makes me feel targeted and a little sick to think I’m a on a distribution list for those who lost their mums.

Also, i definitely wouldn’t have consciously opted in for marketing. I always tick those boxes.

I’m sorry for your loss and the upset this caused. I do not think you are being unreasonable. Being invited to submit something as part of a memorial, tribute etc is one thing, but I think it is the particularly trite and crass phrase that makes it so particularly bad.

Take care of yourself xx

I’m so sorry for your loss OP. I work in marketing and this is a bad idea, shockingly executed. Definitely take it further - god knows how many more people they’ve upset.

For those on the thread defending them, there is literally no excuse to send an email title ‘a Mother’s Day like no other’ to a bereaved person - particularly when you oversaw the recent burial of their mother!