Can I attend a retirement dinner, accept appreiciation gift durng the year of aveilus?

Question:

1. I am in the year of aveilus for my mother. Can I attend a retirement dinner for a fellow teacher?
2. Also, can I use money that was given to me by a parent in appreciation of teaching her child? Thank you

Answer:

1. You may attend but you should not eat there.
2. You may get such presents because they are essentially a form of payment for the work that you did.