Flowers have been the traditional gift purchased to express condolences, but creativity and greater openness have allowed other gifts for funeral services to gain ground. Find out what you can present to your grieving loved ones and learn how to find the ideal choice.
Many families now provide a prompt to friends and fellow grievers on what to give in lieu of flowers. Often posted at the funeral home or in the obituary, charitable causes, trust funds and other avenues for donation provide the ideal way to express support and honor your loved one.
Grieving families become easily run down before, during and after the funeral services. Consider providing them with food to allow more space to grieve or simply recuperate. If preparing hot meals or baked goods is not possible, purchase gift cards from their favorite restaurants or pick up prepared food from the grocery store. Take any allergies and preferences into consideration before dropping off the food and leave detailed instructions for reheating and storage.
Planting a tree or setting up a new park bench in honor of the lost loved one provides a lasting memento and ideal gift. Go through your memories for an appropriate location or simply present the grieving family with a certificate detailing the gift and follow up at a later date to confirm the location.
Memories become incredibly precious after the passing of a loved one and photographs capture memories well. Frame a photograph of the deceased or a picture of a location special to the grieving family. You may also consider having a photograph painted or sketched. Have the picture mounted in an attractive frame and ready to hang.
Offers of time and service offer an affordable option for condolences. Consider taking on household tasks or odd jobs for the grieving family. Handling lawn maintenance, house and auto repairs, babysitting, cleaning and many other regular tasks allow the family more time to heal. Your generosity will be remembered long after the task has been completed.
Think about presenting grievers with sentiments other than flowers, or supplement the traditional condolence with one of these creative options to express your love and support.