What Not to Say at a Funeral: An Unexpectedly Humorous Guide to Showing Up When It Matters Most

By Amy Havis

Not all losses come with instructions. And most of us are never taught what to say when someone is grieving-- so we say nothing at all. What Not To Say At A Funeral is a warm, honest, and unexpectedly humorous guide to showing up when words fail. After losing her infant daughter, Amy Havis came face to face with how ill-equipped most of us are-- not just to grieve our own losses, but to support one another through them. Drawing from lived experience, real-life scenarios, and hard-earned insight, Havis offers practical guidance for friends, families, coworkers, and communities navigating loss together. Part narrative non-fiction, part social guide, the book invites readers to let go of platitudes, resist silence, and choose presence instead. For grievers and the people who love them, What Not To Say At A Funeral is a compassionate reminder that imperfect presence is often the most meaningful thing we can offer. In the spirit of There Is No Good Card for This and It's OK That You're Not OK, What Not To Say at a Funeral speaks to the moments when comfort feels impossible and silence often takes over.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1966883129
• ISBN13: 9781966883128
• Release Date: September 2026
• Publisher: Left Field Publishing
• Length: 124 Pages