Ask Amy: Vacation plans have expanded too far
I live in a different province, and due to COVID I won't be able to say goodbye in person or attend the funeral, but I do want to send flowers and donate to a charity.
Does the etiquette surrounding flowers/donations change at all? Should anything be sent to the dying person in advance, or should it be treated like a regular passing and flowers be sent to the family after?
— Confused in BC
Dear Confused: Do not send your aunt a funeral spray. But if you think that a beautiful bouquet of her favorite flowers would make her happy (I could imagine that it might), then send them to her.
The most important thing for you to do for your aunt in advance of her death is to let her know how much you love and appreciate her. Whether that is through a card, letter, a video shot on your phone and shown to her — you have the opportunity to tell her that you love her, and that she means a lot to you.
After her death, you could send a bouquet or a food basket to her nearby family members, as well as donate to a charity in her memory.
Dear Amy: My daughter graduated from college two years ago, with a biology degree and an desire to attend a physician’s assistant program.
She did not get in anywhere last year, but I encouraged her to keep trying.
She had been working as a technician for an eye doctor.
Last month, she took a new position and moved across the county to the same town as us. The new job pays so much better, and she is doing well.
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