Life in the Slow Lane

Good Grief: Learning the Etiquette of Death

Here are some of the dumb things to avoid saying.

When someone close to you dies, you become a member of a club you’d rather not join.   My initiation five years ago when my father passed away was both a revelation and a lesson in etiquette. Before that, I had no idea what to say to people in that situation; I was sure that any mention of their loss would cause more pain. Turns out “I’m so sorry” is usually enough; philosophizing on how God must have needed another angel is way too much.  Before performing a funeral, a clergyman I know typically asks the deceased’s loved ones what was the dumbest thing anyone has said to them about their loss. The answers range from “God wanted her more than you did” to “Do you think you’ll remarry?”  But for most of us, the problem is not so much saying …

•  10 Comments
• Photos (1)

How Do You Talk About Death With Children?

It’s an issue that we all have to face eventually, but the subject is never an easy one to deal with.

Moms Talk is a weekly feature on all Lehigh Valley Patches, in which local parents are invited to share opinions and advice on parenting issues. Each week our Moms Council members will discuss a different issue. Join the conversation by weighing in on a topic or asking questions.   Our Moms Council members include:  Introducing Beth Sharpless The newest member of our Moms Council, Beth lives in Emmaus, and works part-time in a local emergency department as a nurse and part-time from home as a customer support specialist. She has two children, a boy who is almost 2, and a 5-year-old girl. She says they love spending time outdoors and dancing.  This week’s Moms Talk question comes from Beth. She asks: How do parents handle the subject of …

•  10 Comments
• Photos (1)

What Do You Think about the Death of Bin Laden?

With the news that Osama bin Laden was killed late last night, is it time to celebrate?

Last night, President Obama revealed how a U.S. operation, launched eight months ago, ended in a firefight that killed the most wanted man in the world, Osama bin Laden. U.S. intelligence led a small team to Abbottabad, Pakistan, where they killed Bin Laden and took possession of his body, the President said. That happened last week. This morning, the mother of World Trade Center victim Bill Sugra is happy Osama bin Laden is dead, according to a report early this morning on lehighvalleylive.com. "I’m totally happy, I guess," El Sugra, of Salisbury Township, said in the report. "It’s a horrible thing to say. But we’re happy that he’s dead." The Sugras' son, who was 30 when he was killed, worked at Cantor Fitzgerald Securities in the World …

•  14 Comments
• Photos (3)