I grew up in a very small town, and when someone died the family was inundated with covered dishes and baked goods. My mother had a double-wide chest type deep freezer and it was covered with pies and casseroles when my aunt died in 1965. I still remember the lemon meringue pie someone brought.

This bereavement food is to have around the house for when family comes to town and when the lady of the house is too busy with arrangements and dealing with guests to cook meals. People also brought food to the church or wherever the lunch was held after the funeral, but that was usually the ladies from whichever church the service was held at.

Here is what I would take to Ms. Honey Bugg's house:



Here are some scalloped potatoes.



Some Jello. Not as fancy as I'd like, but ran out of time to go to the store for cream cheese and nuts.



And of course the pie. Made with love from scratch, of course.