The expressions of sympathy which have come from all sections of our divided society after the death of Queen Elizabeth were both sincere and deeply moving.
Political leaders were able to least temporarily set aside their differences earlier this week while coming together to offer their condolences personally to King Charles at both Hillsborough Castle and St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast.
In many ways, the dignified and mature response of our elected representatives across the board generated hopes that the reconciliation process could move forward in wider terms over the coming months.
It is therefore particularly unfortunate that issues should have arisen over attitudes towards the queen's state funeral at Westminster Abbey in London on Monday.
There will be an expectation that commercial life will come to a halt in many areas during the service, but businesses and other facilities which wish to remain open must have the right to make their own decisions on the matter.
Some may intend to stick to their normal arrangements for a number of entirely valid financial reasons, including the need to cater for their regular customers and avoid the loss of trade in the face of a looming recession, while others simply exercise their own personal choice.
While it obvious that a sense of public mourning will be evident in unionist districts, the idea that it should be automatically extended to nationalist areas is a highly unusual one.
A specific debate has been taking place in the overwhelming nationalist town of Dungiven in Co Derry, after clear and repeated suggestions that outlets including a free food service known as a community fridge should close their doors on Monday morning.
It should be accepted that voluntary initiatives can have great significance but those which are accompanied by any degree of pressure lose their meaning very quickly.
The leaders of nationalism have already expressed their deep sympathies to King Charles, and several will travel to London to pay a final tribute to his late mother during a major international gathering.
Many ordinary people in all parts of Ireland, north and south, will watch the proceedings on television and take the opportunity to offer a silent prayer for a person who made a distinguished contribution to the search for peace and reconciliation here.
Those who have other commitments and prefer to provide important services for the entire community deserve to be treated with equal respect.
