If you can’t attend a funeral service or want to express your condolences after the gathering, you might send a sympathy gift to a mourning friend and their family. As the person is in the process of grieving, you should put serious thought into what gift will be appropriate. To help you decide, follow the below advice. 

Tips for Sending Meaningful Sympathy Gifts

1. Take the Person’s Mood Into Account

From anger to guilt and depression, people go through many emotions during the grieving process. Although you can’t anticipate your friend’s mood, choose gifts that won’t rile their negative emotions. For example, it might be considered insensitive to use a humorous gift to lift their spirits. Instead, consider sending a sympathy bouquet. Seeing the bright colors and smelling the pleasant aroma of fresh-cut flowers could help restore a sense of calm and elevate their mood. 

2. Think About What They Need

Providing a helping hand can reduce some of the strain while your loved one readjusts to life after the loss. Alleviating daily stress will also give them time to process their emotions. Reach out to find out where you can be most useful. This might include running a few errands, taking the kids to school, or making a meal so that they don’t have to cook. 

3. Respect Their Wishes

In the funeral service announcement, your friend might include an “in lieu of” statement in the messaging. This often directs funeral service attendees to do something else instead of sending flowers and gifts. Sending donations to a specific charity or planting a tree in the memory of the deceased are two requests people often make. Make sure to follow through with the request, as these types of gifts are important to your friend.

If you have experienced the death of a friend or relative, the professionals at Arndt Funeral Home LLC will assist with making funeral arrangements to reduce stress during trying times. Over the past four decades, families in Monroe County, NY, have come to rely on these Rochester-based professionals to create meaningful memorial and funeral services to help them say final goodbyes and start to heal. To discuss planning a funeral or celebration of life for your loved one, call (585) 225-6350. Visit the funeral home online to learn more about what they offer.