DEAR MISS MANNERS: While etiquette dictates sending thank-you notes for significant gestures, such as sending flowers or bringing food to your home, is it not necessary to send thank-you notes for sympathy cards? Do you send them if there was money in the cards?
My mother just passed, and I am not familiar with how to address these issues. I have never experienced a close, personal loss before now.
GENTLE READER: Giving anything, even money, counts as a significant gesture. So does writing a thoughtful condolence letter. Those require an expression of gratitude.
Miss Manners counts a mere signature on a pre-printed sympathy card as a minimal gesture, although perhaps better than nothing. A response is optional.
(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)