Mariel Segarra

So if you have episode ideas or feedback you want to share, email us at lifekit at npr.org.

This episode of LifeKit was produced by Claire Marie Schneider.

Our digital editor is Malika Garib, and our visuals editor is CJ Rikalan.

Megan Cain is our senior supervising editor, and Beth Donovan is our executive producer.

Our production team also includes Andy Tegel, Margaret Serino, and Sylvie Douglas.

Engineering support comes from Damian Herring.

Fact-checking by Andrea Lopez Cruzado.

I'm Mariel Segarra.

Thanks for listening.

You're listening to Life Kit from NPR.

Hey, everybody.

It's Marielle.

We're starting this episode in the top drawer of a dresser in reporter Julia Furlan's living room.

In that drawer is a small decorative bag filled with a few little things.

Julia is describing a care package that she intended to send to her friend whose mom passed away in 2022.

She reported this episode in 2024.

When you're grieving the loss of a loved one, I mean, it's overwhelming, right?

It's all-encompassing.

And supporting someone through that can also be overwhelming and awkward.

Like, you don't know the right thing to say.