| Suicide Condolence
Card Launched Hallmark
Cards Inc. is making a sympathy
card for those who lose someone to
suicide, expanding the company's
collection of death- and illness-related
cards.
The
card, the first in a possible line has
just been released. Hallmark's Lifesong
collection, which includes the card,
celebrates all experiences,
beautiful and painful, company
spokeswoman Rachel Bolton said
Wednesday.
"`There
was a resounding response for this kind
of card, cards that deal with death
and dying and spirituality,'" she
said.
Hallmark
tested the idea for a suicide condolences
card in at least six cities and received
an overwhelmingly positive
response, she said. One woman said none
of the cards she received after her
husband's suicide showed that people knew
or understood the loss. "What
these cards do is they open the door to
communication,'' Bolton said. ``The
challenge is to educate people about what
it means to lose someone like
this.''
The
card is set on a light blue background
with a cloudy skyline across the front.
At the bottom, a lone sailboat sits
on calm water. The message inside
describes someone fleeing from life and
the impossibility of knowing that
person's suffering. It also
seeks to reassure the reader that
"our compassionate Creator"'
understands and "already has
welcomed"' the loved one home. The
cards will be identified in stores by a
"suicide"' tab. Bolton said the
card will be available in about
7,000 Hallmark stores and Hallmark-brand
marketers. Hallmark a the
greeting card industry's leader with
large proportion of the market.
What
do readers think? A reasonable choice?
Tacky? Making money out of grief? Let us
know your thoughts. Write to DIDMSNJ, BM
718, London WC1N 3XX.
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