Words mean so much

Today, in a world of social media, many of us find ourselves discovering about a death of somebody we know online, perhaps through a Facebook post and often end up sending our condolences through a message on the same post. While this might seem a little impersonal, somebody told us recently that simply putting a post on Facebook about their loved one’s death took some of the pressure away of having to make phone calls. They also took comfort in reading the comments.

In days gone by, when the Internet didn’t exist and many households didn’t have a telephone, families would send out small cards to share the sad news of a family death. These tended to be simple and edged in black, often with the envelope edged in black too. This was in the days when a card posted in the morning could potentially be received the same day and was an efficient way of letting people know the news.

Here at Tester & Jones, we find that some families still like to send announcement cards and we have help them with that, if required.

In the past, people might also send out simple cards or printed letters, again edged in black, thanking friends and family for their support. One of our team has one from 1939 for her Great Grandmother, Florence, who died in Birmingham. It is rather like a little leaflet with the funeral director’s details on the back. On the front it says ‘In Loving Memory’ with a short verse from the bible and details of when the funeral took place. It opens up to a printed message from the family wishing a ‘desire to express their heartfelt thanks for the kindness and sympathy shown to them in their great loss’.

In addition to organising the printing of any announcement cards and, of course, the order of service, we are able to offer a range of funeral stationery. Some families like to order thank you cards which might mirror the order of service in design, perhaps with a photo on the front. These can then be used as thank you cards afterwards to acknowledge the fact that somebody attended the service or sent flowers etc.

We’ve also had families who have ordered stationery items as a keepsake to take away from a service, such as a card with a treasured poem on it or a bookmark which includes a photograph. Other personalised items we can provide include books of condolence, attendance cards and memorial cards.

A family can also order a personalised memory box (available in various sizes), which could be used afterwards to store sympathy cards or special mementos, such as jewellery.

While get-togethers after a funeral aren’t going ahead as planned currently, families would often use these occasions to display photographs of their loved one. If required, we can produce personalised memory boards with images. This can be kept and perhaps displayed at a memorial service in the months ahead.