Funeral/death of my neighboot, what to do?

OK im from a different culture of the american and i don't know what to do. A family member of my right next door neighbor died, and i don't know what to do? i mean what do you do: do you take flowers, homemade bread or what? or what do you say to them?

in our country we take alcohol and pray with the family there at their house, but i don't think that is appropriate in this country...so please help me...thanks
Funeral/death of my neighboot, what to do?
Send them a sympathy card and maybe take some food over, or you could just send them some flowers.
Reply:we usually make food for the family of the deceased. food that would work best would be foods that can be stored in the fridge or freezer and taken out to eat later, casseroles and lasagnas are common choices. we provide food for the family because after the death of a loved one, nobody feels like cooking for themselves, so friends in the community bring food that could easily be heated up later. you may also order flowers and have them sent to the funeral home if you wish.
Reply:A cake or homemade bread offering would be good. Knock on the door, tell them you are sorry for their loss, give them the food and if they ask you in, follow their lead. Otherwise, you expressed that you were sorry and did what you needed to do.
Reply:Here in America we bring food. Something they can eat for dinner sometime over the next few days so they don't have to worry about cooking, etc. Also cake or pie or cookies.

The other thing we do is bring flowers. If you know them very well %26amp; are VERY close to them, you clean their house.
Reply:if you have no relationship with them then nothing is ok, or a card in the mail. If you do, attend the wake in conservative clothes and express condolences. No need to go to the funeral unless you are close to them.
Reply:Flowers or potted plants can be sent from the Florists (you can find them in the phone book). For a neighbor THAT YOU WERE CLOSE TO, I'd say an arrangement in the $30-50 range would be fine. For a neighbor you really didn't know, the family wouldn't expect flowers and a sympathy card would be nice. You can also make a donation to a charity in their honor (if the person died of cancer choose something like the American Cancer Society, if the person was sick for a long time and had homecare, choose Hospice...etc.). It is customary to take food to the grieving family. I think homemade bread or whatever your specialty is would be lovely and much appreciated. Most people make casseroles or salads, but anything will be welcomed. You may also consider attending the "viewing" or the funeral.



If you are in the U.S., it is likely that your neighbor was Christian. There won't be any religious ceremony at the viewing (this is when you go to the funeral home and view the body and tell the family how sorry you are that their loved one died - but you don't stay long). But at the funeral, there will probably be a religious ceremony. After most funerals, the body is accompanied to the cemetery where a short service with prayer takes place before the body is placed in the grave.



Good luck! :)
Reply:I just had a neighbor die a couple of months ago. I just helped the family around the house and sent flower. I also took up donations for the family from the neighbors. Any amount will help so much. I don't like going to funerals so I babysat the house while they were gone and took care of the phone and deliveries. Anything you can do to take pressure off them will be greatly appreciated. I also did a lot of praying for them. Prayer won't hurt anyone.
Reply:Unless you are very close like family to them, a simple, I am sorry to hear about your loss. Or give them a sympathy card.
Reply:If you knew them well and were friends flowers are great. Also food is customary perhaps a BBQ Pork shoulder or a casserole. I would not do a cake as it implies a celebration. In times like this they are usually very busy with no time to cook and are feeding out of town friends. I grew up in a small town and went to about a hundred funerals in my life. People show respect by bring food, sending flowers, I was amazed that three years ago when my father passed away that the locals would remove their hats and bow their heads when the funeral procession passed their house. You don't see that in the city I live in now. People are even rude enough to honk at and pass the procession.
Reply:You go, and extend heartfelt sympathy to the family. Perhaps you can relate that you have had a loss and know how hard it

is. Tell them that if there is anything that you can do for them to please call you. bringing flowers is a nice gesture, as is bringing a box of cookies or something like that.