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Bereavement

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Best way to respond?

2 replies

Random4321 · 05/07/2022 11:21

I heard from a coworker this morning that another coworker (Betty) lost her young adult daughter yesterday. I believe her daughter died from an overdose, so it was unexpected. I am new to this job and don't know any of my coworkers well. Betty has been very friendly and welcoming and had shared her number and I did end up interacting with her by personal text and outside of work over a couple small things so I do know her a little and we had talked about our families over a tea. I wanted to reach out to her but I am not sure if it is better to text her or send her an email from my work account given that I don't know her that well. Also I am not sure what to say that doesn't sound like a general platitude (sorry for your loss). I don't want to ignore her loss but I don't want to seem over familiar or cross any boundaries either.

The other coworker is organzing a meal train for her (she has two other teens at home) and I will contribute to that but I feel I should also send a message.

Any suggestions?

OP posts:
Wingedharpy · 06/07/2022 00:43

I'm not Betty, clearly OP, and I haven't ever lost a child in any circumstances but, I have, fairly recently, lost my lovely husband.
I can only tell you what I appreciated.
Either of your suggestions (either text or e-mail) would have been fine with me.
In a strange way, nothing helps at the time, but in time, you do appreciate those who took the time to message you.
All I would say is, please don't do nothing because you were nervous about doing the wrong thing.
Poor Betty😥.

ScotLot · 06/07/2022 00:56

Agree with the previous poster, I've also recently suffered a loss and saying something is better than nothing. I'd probably go with something along the lines of 'I hate that you're going through this. You have my number, please do get in touch if I can be helpful in any way. Sending you love'

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