Is it necessary to send a thank you card after receiving a fruit basket for the death of a brother?

Answer 1

First of all, I'm sorry to hear about the death of your brother. I should be able to shed some light on your question since I have many years experience in the fruit basket industry and have taken many calls from people who are sending a fruit basket as a sympathy gift.

Those who aren't able to attend a funeral will search the internet for hours trying to find something that will show how much they wish they could be there to grieve with you. Fruit baskets are an extremely practical sympathy gift, because those suffering the loss of a loved one often neglect their physical needs of nutrition and sleep. A basket of fruit, sent directly from the orchard, makes it easy for mourners to find something healthy to sustain them through their grief. For those sending the gift, there is often times a level of guilt because circumstances won't let them attend the funeral, so it is very important that they know that their gift was not only delivered but received by you. I have talked to many people who have sent fruit baskets as a sympathy gift, frantic the day after the gift was supposed to arrive, because they haven't heard from the recipient that they'd received the gift. A tracking number showing that the gift was delivered will usually not console the sender because they want to be sure that you received it.

I know to those who are grieving, it is a huge inconvenience to send thank you cards to those who have sent gifts. You've probably spent the last week consoling those who have come to your home and to the funeral, telling them that it will all be okay, when in truth you are the one suffering, not knowing how you'll make it through. Each person who comes or sends a gift wants you to know that they'll be there for you. Whether it is a phone call, email, text, or thank you card, it is my recommendation to let them know personally that you received the gift. As inconvenient as it is, those who sent the fruit basket will be waiting to hear from you.