Woman was angry with grief after losing her mom when she opened a condolence card at work — until one clueless note made her burst out laughing
Dealing with loss affects the mood and emotions of loved ones. Losing her mother brought a lot of grief to Instagram user Amegreen (@amegreen_ivy). When she returned to work, she was still mourning the loss. However, while going through the condolence card at work, one clueless note made her burst out laughing. Sharing the message that lightened her mood, Amegreen displayed the card she received at work to her followers on November 21, 2025.
Instagram user Amegreen was heartbroken by the sudden passing of her mother. After she returned to work, she found herself overwhelmed by grief and anger. Although she had been receiving condolences from people around her, the messages only intensified her emotions. As she read through the condolence card, she noticed familiar phrases such as "Rest in Peace" and "We are sorry for your loss," which were difficult for her to process. However, when she came across a note from a co-worker, she couldn't help but burst out laughing. Sharing the note, Amegreen revealed that one clueless co-worker, who may have been unaware of her mother's demise, presumably thought that it was her birthday. Among the other condolence messages, this particular co-worker chose to write, "Have a great b-day, Karla." Reading the message instantly left Amegreen in stitches, who said, "It made me magically into a better mood."
A 2022 study identified how humor triggers grief and helps in coping with it. After conducting a structured interview of 10 bereaved Canadian adult volunteers, the researchers found that humor often acted as both a trigger and a coping mechanism. Many participants remembered how the person who died was known for often enjoying humor, while others indicated that they periodically used humor to manage, escape, or otherwise live with their grief. Amegreen was already shaken by the passing of her mother. She was on the verge of a potential meltdown after reading condolence messages from her co-workers, since it reminded her of the reality she wished to forget. However, one clueless co-worker, unintentionally, was able to put a smile on her face through their simple message.
People cope with loss in different ways. While Amegreen found comfort in an unexpected laugh, another story highlighted a very different response to grief. 66-year-old Gino Gentilin decided to dance to pop music at the funeral of his 15-year-old grandson, Kevin, who died in a tragic bike accident. When mourners were gathered to say their final goodbyes, the elderly man began dancing energetically to the pop music playing at the service. As it turned out, they often danced together and shared a close bond, with the duo even going to discos as "two accomplices." By cheering and smiling, he was able to mourn the loss of his grandson. The man also noted that he heard his grandson's voice in his head, thanking him afterward, which gave him a sense of release from his grief.
For more such content, follow @amegreen_ivy on Instagram.
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