Funerals can be a stressful time for your loved ones, and it’s natural to want to help or give them something to comfort them. If you’re planning on getting the grieving family a gift, there are several factors you should consider beforehand, such as what you’ll give and when you’ll give it. Here is a brief guide on gift-giving at a funeral service.

Should You Bring a Gift?

Planning and attending a funeral service for a family member is a difficult time, and gifts are a thoughtful and unobtrusive way to show your loved one that you support and care about them. Many gifts that they receive will serve as reminders, such as photos or keepsakes, of the person who has passed. Plus, the collection of gifts will show the family how many people cared about their loved one, which will help comfort them as they grieve.

What Should You Give?

Choosing the gift will take thought and planning. You don’t want to get anything extravagant or irrelevant to the event. Flowers, keepsakes, cards, donations, and easy- or ready-to-eat foods are popular gifts to give at a funeral service because they’re simple and sentimental. If you’re especially close with the loved one’s family, you can also offer to help with housekeeping, child care, and errands while they grieve. Be sure to check with the funeral home planning the memorial service to see if the family has specific requests regarding gifts, as they may ask for donations to a charity in lieu of flowers.

When Should You Give It?

The timing and manner in which you give the gift will matter, too. If you’re sending something like flowers, a card, vegetable or meat trays, or a record of a donation, have them sent to the funeral home before the service, which saves the family from having to transport and arrange them. For personal items, like food or memorialization objects, you can give them to the family during visitation or after the funeral services are over. If you’re close with the family and want to give them space, you can also opt for a personal visit after several days, when you can give them their gift and see how they’re doing.

If you or a loved one would like attentive support and guidance when planning a funeral service, reach out to Fossum Funeral Home in Onalaska, WI. For over 90 years, these courteous and respectful professionals have helped Trempealeau County families honor their loved ones’ memories through affordable cremation and burial services. Focused on meeting every request when possible, they offer cremation, funeral, pre-planning, and memorial service options. Learn more about their services online, and call (608) 783-9777 to begin planning today.