What to Do When Someone Dies - Attend the Funeral of a Friend's Loved One

We often wonder what to do when someoneafterward. That was it...C'est la vie..." 
dies that is close to a friend. We might not haveIt was just what you do when someone dies.
known the person who died but we know thatNow it is easy for my friend to make that kind
our friend is deeply saddened. We want to lend aof comment but I think the important thing here
hand, we want them to know that we are thereis to say that they knew what to do when
for them but we don't know what to do. Thissomeone dies:  they went to a funeral of
might help you to know what to do whensomeone they didn't know and they supported
someone dies.the grieving family.  How important that would
My friend, Yvonne, told me she went to a funeralhave been to Larry's curling buddy.
the other day for the mother of a fellow curler inThere is a proverb which says: A joy shared is a
her husband's curling league.  She said "It's whatdouble joy; A sorrow shared is half a sorrow.
you do when someone dies that is close to aWhen someone dies we often think "I didn't know
friend of yours. It is how you support thatthe person, why would I go to the funeral?" 
person and let them know you care."  Why, indeed?  Because the people that are left
When she told me about the funeral, she saidbehind need to feel your love and your caring. 
"There wasn't anything really special or differentThey need to have a witness to their grief.  It
about it. The son read about his mom's life, andmay not be meaningful or spectacular to you, but
he did add humor, which everyone appreciated.you are doing a service....c'est la vie means that's
That, I think, was what made everyone relax andlife....and it is how we share our journey and our
enjoy. Telling funny stories about one's life seemsstruggles and our celebrations with each other and
so much more relevant than to go on about theirget through life. It is what you do when someone
successes in a long list. No one else, other thandies because it helps to half the sorrow.
the minister spoke. Goodies were served