Send a card with a note stating that you have donated the cost of flowers to a charity that the deceased was interested in. This is what my Mother did (Special Olympics) and What I would like when I pass on (Most social causes).
I would go to the viewing, if at all possible...if you can't make the viewing, drop a card in the mail.
I would send a card, and if you wanted to do flowers, I would send a potted plant. That way they can keep it after the funeral.
It was a sibling, I hadn't ever met them, but I've met most of the other folks in the family, it was a family owned business. I just don't know.
Ok that's different. If you worked for a family owned business for several years and still have ties to the people there, and someone in that family died, I would probably go to the viewing.
then yea i would try and go. if you cant make it then send a card. if we know that a person is a member of a certain church we donate money instead of flowers to that church in memory of the person.
I usually just send cards or flowers. I know this sounds bad, but I don't like to see dead people. I only go to wakes of people I have to go to... family mostly.
Many people don't, and they should never be looked upon as less than civilized just because they won't go to a viewing, wake, or funeral.
I say swing by for a quick hug at the viewing.....means the most! and remember you are going to express sympathy....to the one's left behind (it did to me, when the dust settled after my sister died)