When my mom died in 2019, one of the many floral arrangements we received for her funeral was a plant given by a family that our family has known for a long time. I went to high school with one generation, and my parents were friends with them and their two sets of parents.
After the funeral, the plant went to my dad’s room at the nursing home, where the aides who took care of him did their best to keep it alive. When my dad passed away soon thereafter, I brought the plant home and placed it by the wall of windows in my dining room.