Man tells elderly woman having a rough day that he just lost his mom, so she could feel better — her response left him in stitches
Sometimes, coping with grief needs a little extraordinary, a little unexpected, and perhaps, a little humor. Instagram user and stand-up comedian Tim Murray (@tmurray06), who helped a woman at a grocery store, shared his grief about losing his mother recently. However, her immediate reaction to the tragic news left him in stitches. Sharing the video with his Instagram followers on November 24, 2025, the comedian revealed how he now looks up to her as an "icon."
Murray was shopping at a grocery store when an elderly woman's coin purse fell, scattering all of the coins down. The woman in her 80s was telling the cashier that she was having a horrible day. The man stepped in to help her, while the cashier told her that her day would get better. However, she replied, "It won't, this is just my life, terrible." As he walked in silence with her to the car to help her with the groceries, he revealed to her that he had recently lost his mother on a Monday. Instead of giving him a sympathetic look, she looked at him with a judgmental face and said, "You lost your mother on a Monday? What a bummer! Now I'm really bummed out." Her hilarious reaction instantly made him chuckle, and he later called her an "icon."
A study published in PMC noted that many people use humor as a coping mechanism when dealing with grief. After interviewing 10 bereaved adult volunteers, individuals recalled how the person who died was known for often enjoying humor, while others remembered how they periodically used humor to manage, escape, and live with their grief. Murray must have been silently grieving his mother's death and wanted to offer a helping hand to the elderly woman. However, her Debbie Downer personality with her sense of humor impressed him, helping him cope with his grief. Soon after the video went viral, many users shared their thoughts on the story.
@lets.get.ready.to.stumble wrote, "Losing your Mom is life-shattering. I bet your Mom placed that Grumpy Icon in your path to make you laugh, again. Sending so much love to you!!" @hatsclark commented, "She's right! It IS a bummer! I wish more people had said it like it is when my mum died. It almost feels like that lady was a whimsical entity out there to make you laugh. I'm glad you found some joy this week." @funnyjet1 added, "I'm glad she brought you joy."
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