Dealing with strangers
12/31/2008
is a lot easier than dealing with friends.
It is difficult sometimes for me when I am dealing with grieving families but to have to confirm a death to a friend was rather uncomfortable. I got into the office and got a call requesting my assistance to see if a rumor was true. It was about a death in another county, but since I work with other agencies quite frequently, my friend asked for my help. I was able to make a few calls and was able to speak with the investigating detective. It was true, there was a murder suicide and the person I was inquiring about was the murder victim. I was able to relay some information to the detective. I am used to dealing with death and tragedy but this put a different angel on things.
What I found hard was calling my friend back and telling her the bad news. It broke my heart to hear her cry, to have her so upset with the news I just told her. I was glad her husband was there for her but he was also affected by the news. I was able to get the information to him, what was needed for follow up. I felt a little uneasy most of the day, and didn’t have a chance to call them back.
Tonight I was just walking in the door and my home phone was ringing. It was the same friend, she called to say thank you for my help. She told me it was immensely helpful for her to hear the news from me instead of someone she didn’t know. She was glad the family was able to pull together, get in contact with each other and they were making the funeral arrangements.
I am glad I was able to help, in some small way. I am glad she called to reassure me tonight; I needed a bit of comforting myself. It helped me to hear that my resources and contacts were a help to the family.
I will say a prayer tonight for someone I never met, someone that touched the lives of my friends and pray that her family will find some comfort.
