Bereavement stationery is formal paper used for funerals, memorials or mourning periods. It ranges from black-edged paper to commemorative keepsakes. Funeral homes and printing companies offer this service. Personalized thank you cards and memorial pamphlets are also common. It’s advisable to have this stationery on hand for future use.
Bereavement stationery is formal stationery associated with a funeral, memorial or period of mourning. There are several types of bereavement stationery, ranging from plain black-edged correspondence paper to commemorative papers designed to be kept as keepsakes. Many printing companies offer this stationery as part of their services, and funeral homes are often happy to help people make arrangements with such companies. It is also possible to purchase pre-packaged mourning stationery which is often quite suitable.
Traditionally, mourning has been a period accompanied by minimal public interaction for the primary mourners, especially in the case of widows. However, many people need or want to communicate with the outside world, making some sort of formal stationery highly advisable. While formal personal stationery may be used for correspondence, this stationery is considered preferable in some societies, as a mark of respect for the deceased.
During a time of mourning, people may choose to use black-edged paper for basic correspondence; this funeral stationery can also be personalized with the sender’s name and coat of arms, just like a normal personal letterhead. It’s also not uncommon to purchase sets of small, sombrely designed thank you cards to show appreciation for polite requests, gifts of flowers, and other tokens of respect made to the deceased and their family. Such thanks are traditional and expected in most cultures, although a short delay is not unacceptable, as mourners are assumed to be in mourning.
Bereavement stationery may also be given to attendants at a funeral or memorial. Many people like to print memorial cards or pamphlets to commemorate the deceased; these range from classic prayer cards with religious themes to small booklets with photographs, poems and other tributes to commemorate the lives of fun-loving people. At a formal funeral, plans may be printed on mourning paper and distributed to the people attending. Such memorial cards, programs and brochures are traditionally kept and may even be sent to mourners who were unable to attend the funeral.
Of course, most people want to avoid the need for bereavement stationery. However, if aesthetics are particularly important to you and you use your own letterhead, you may want to consider printing this stationery in a timeless, classic design so it’s there when you need it. You can also use such stationery to correspond with mourners; the black band on your letterhead will be seen as a thoughtful indicator of your compliance. It’s also a good idea to have a small supply of somber blank notes on hand for writing personalized condolence notes, and this wiseGEEK writer hopes no one has to be reminded that keeping basic stationery on hand for writing thank you notes is absolutely essential.
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