what to send a friend instead of flowers when parent passes away

Concluding Updated on March 3, 2022

What should you send when someone dies, instead of flowers?

Funeral flowers are beautiful, just many people detect them depressing. After all, once the hubbub of the funeral or memorial service subsides, the flowers sit on a table and… die. A sad collection of wilting flowers isn't exactly the image y'all want to leave with the recipient of your memorial gift.

Then many people look for funeral bloom alternatives to give that somehow gloat life.

Whether it's a "living wreath" instead of a traditional flower wreath, or perhaps a bird feeder that draws local wildlife shut and actually helps sustain them, we've nerveless the best sympathy gifts to transport instead of flowers.

If you're looking to get away from the overdone memorial gift tradition of funeral flowers, hither's what to send instead of flowers when someone dies.

What To Send Instead of Flowers When Someone Dies

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Ship a Personalized Bird Feeder

What to send equally a sympathy gift instead of flowers: How about a personalized cedar woods bird feeder?

The "Bird on a Co-operative" blueprint shown above is just 1 of many we tin engrave onto the front panel of the feeder. Includes light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation engraved customization proper noun & dates. Made in the USA from existent aromatic cedar wood, this makes a great "life-affirming" gift.

Send a "Living" Memorial Wreath

A "living wreath" such as this gorgeous Succulent Living Wreath is a cracking choice to send instead of flowers, as sympathy floral wreaths are a well-established condolence gift.

This one is dissimilar, notwithstanding, because it does not simply wither and die afterwards a week or two. It really lives on. Continue it lightly watered now and again, and this beautifully unique wreath will be a very long-lasting memorial souvenir.

Related: 11 "Living Memorial" Ideas to Honor a Loved One

Ship a Plantable Condolence Card

Cute cards such equally the ones pictured above feature plantable seed paper cutout images affixed to a sympathy bill of fare. The recipient can plant the seed paper to grow flowers that will bloom in memory of the departed.

If those designs don't strike the right tone, you can get plain seed paper cards and write your own condolences. These are too handy for apply as thank-y'all cards, invitations, and more.

At Urns Northwest, we as well offer sets of plantable memorial bookmarks that are ideal for giving out to attendees at the memorial service.

Send a Jewelry Memorial Gift

Cremation and memorial jewelry are very popular ways to remember and honor a loved one. A beautiful necklace volition help keep their memories of their loved i "close to their center."

Consider a personalized memorial like this elegant photo necklace, which features a tiny photo hidden in the "lens" centerpiece of the pendant. Or, if their loved ane was cremated, there are many affordable and beautiful cremation jewelry pieces that hold a tiny keepsake amount of cremated remains.

Either choice can be a very appreciated and treasured sympathy gift.

Send Something Useful for the Funeral

Call a family member and ask to provide something that will help with the funeral. Be specific; a generic offering of, "How tin can I help?" is almost always turned downward.

Instead, say that y'all would like to help past taking care of one of the following items, and ask which would exist best:

Funeral/memorial service invitations
Guestbook for the service (here are xviii unique and beautiful ideas)
Framed and printed photo for a memorial table
Other accents for themed memorial tables
Their option of cremation urn
"My Special Retention of You" cards to collect memories and stories
Funeral favors to pass out to attendees
Reception table centerpieces
Pre-printed thank-you cards (include stamps!)

Send a Sympathy Meal

We wrote the definitive Guide to Sympathy Meals Subsequently the Funeral, which you tin can read for tips and recipes. If you're away and are looking for something to transport, consider organizing a "repast railroad train" for locals to bring hot meals in the weeks following the funeral.

There are likewise a variety of options for boxed meals delivered to their door. These include Hullo Fresh delivered with fix-to-melt ingredients, SendAMeal.com, calling in a local delivery for their favorite pizza, Uber Eats, or souvenir cards to local restaurants.

Send a Mass Card (for Catholics)

If the decedent is Roman Catholic, one memorial gift selection is to arrange a mass and send a mass card.

For the uninitiated, a mass carte du jour is sent to the family of the deceased to let them know that the sender has arranged a mass to exist performed in memory of the departed loved ane.

Ship a Self-Care Kit

Cocky-care sympathy gifts are a skillful idea for a sister, bestie, or co-worker. It tells the recipient that you are thinking of them, and that their welfare is important to you in this difficult time.

Here are a few self-intendance memorial gift ideas:

A luxurious bath gift set
Manicure or spa souvenir certificate
This crawly over-the-shoulder massager
Lodge delivery from their favorite to-go place
A super-cozy throw blanket
Food baskets – simply only stuff that won't spoil easily, as they will probable have lots of food brought over
Something you know they love – sports tickets, a new book from a favorite author, etc
Many more than ideas hither

Send a Quirky Gift

Sometimes what a person needs is something to take their mind off of everything.

If yous're a shut friend and you know their tastes, a good idea might be something special like agate rock wind chimes or a personalized pocket knife, a t-rex shaped coffee mug or a silly bill of fare game.

Send Something for the Kids

Don't forget about the little ones. During a time of sadness and confusing emotions, a little actress intendance shown towards kids in the family unit tin can become a long ways.

Pictured above we have the Money Maze Puzzle Box, an inexpensive footling puzzle they volition take to solve in club to open the puzzle box and recollect the coin. This will provide something to occupy their time while likewise giving them a nice little surprise.

If you know what the kids are into, go with that. Pokemon, slime-making kits, Legos, journals, and marbles are big with my kids right now.

Maybe the children in your family love crafts, Minecraft, Fortnite, sports, or those lilliputian "blind bag" collectible figurines. You tin can also choose a unmarried gift the whole family can use, such as a magnetic toy building set or a deluxe art set with markers, pencils, and painting supplies.

Send a Gift Document

If you lot know what they like and appreciate, send a relevant souvenir certificate.

If they love to shop, a bill of fare for their favorite shop. For movie buffs, a theater gift card. Books, coffee, and restaurants are also popular choices, always well-received.

Include a annotation that lets them know you're thinking of them and why you chose the particular vendor.

three. Healing Care Package from Here For You lot

Compassion Packages are a fantastic way to intendance for a friend or family member! Choose from household essentials to self-care packages and everything in betwixt.

These boxes are created and curated past Here for Yous, a company devoted to providing helpful intendance-packages for a bereaved family or individual. A charming way to say y'all are keeping them in your thoughts!

If you lot want to learn more before ordering, see our review & unboxing here.

Ship a "Heighten a Glass" Memorial Bottle Opener from Urns Northwest

Proudly made in the US, this personalized canteen opener is fabricated from solid contrasting woods. The loved one's proper name and dates volition be light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation etched on this memorial.

Every time the recipient opens a bottle, they will be raising a toast to their loved one! This is a meaningful gift that you tin send straight to your grieving friend or family member.

Send a Very Big Hug (Coating)

This 100% cotton Hug in a Blanket is the perfect way to prove your love! Handmade by Calhoun and Co. on Etsy, this will be a package anyone would appreciate opening.

Send a warm and heartfelt hug to that special person! Is at that place a nicer way to let someone know you lot are thinking of them?

Send a Check

Sending money tin exist a very of import service and welcome memorial gift to the family. Funerals are expensive, time is taken off from work, and financial stress is inevitable.

In accord with your means and their needs, you might consider sending a cheque to cover groceries or to cover a calendar month or more of their living expenses. No thing how large or small, it will exist appreciated.

Send a Gift of Service

Helping out is not bad way to testify a personal level of care.

Here are a few memorial gift options for when y'all're local:

Do some one thousand work. This is a great i because y'all won't even need to become inside. Come and weed the garden, mow the lawn, rake the leaves, etc
Clean the business firm. Make sure it'southward ok offset, simply don't requite them too much time to pre-clean. Exist ready to become your hands muddy and take care of business!
Clean out the post-funeral junk. Toss out onetime flowers, clean out the fridge from all the casseroles, intermission downward cardboard boxes from mailed gifts and memorial service supplies, organize the keepsakes from the funeral
Babysit the kids. Come to the house so they can get out for a long walk or become to a pic, or have the kids so they can have some peace and quiet at dwelling
Run some errands. Pick up the dry cleaning, render items borrowed from family or friends, walk the dog
Get the groceries. After the meal deliveries cease, run to the grocery shop and pick upwardly fresh fruits and veggies and some healthy prepared meal items forth with some TP and other weekly necessities

If you lot're in a different town or state, you might want to consider hiring some local people to help out in the ways listed in a higher place.

Make certain that whoever you hire is either well regarded or already personally known to you or the recipient (preferably both).

Leap for a restaurant gift carte and rent their regular bodyguard, or transport them groceries and household appurtenances via online commitment and then that they don't have to go grocery shopping for a calendar week.

At that place are plenty of means to get creative with the souvenir of service! Here are more ideas: How to Help a Grieving Friend.

Etiquette for Sending a Sympathy Gift

Have you e'er had to ship anyone a sympathy gift? Many people have questions well-nigh the appropriate etiquette of sending gifts, similar what to say in a souvenir note, and what to do if you knew the family but not the decedent, or yous knew the decedent but not the family.

Beneath you lot will detect some peachy etiquette tips to follow.

When should you transport a sympathy souvenir to the family of the decedent?

The best fourth dimension to send this gift would be as soon as possible afterward the funeral. Only truly, anytime is appropriate.

I like to transport something a few weeks out. That lets the family know that you are thinking of them even later things are settling down. That will mean a lot to the family.

Unremarkably, within two weeks of the funeral, all gifts and cards have been sent out. If you've missed that time frame, yous should still transport your gift! It will be all the more meaningful because past that fourth dimension most other people have "moved on," while the mourner is only commencement to adjust to life without their loved one.

Be enlightened of religious customs.

For instance, you wouldn't send flowers to a Jewish family unit; information technology is not their custom. Only charitable donations are acceptable. You may come by their home and pay your respects.

For the funerals of some Asian cultures, white or yellow mums are appreciated. White mums are a symbol of grief. Christians appreciate a card with a comforting Scripture verse, while those of other faiths or "none" would probably adopt a Celebration of Life quote.

Exercise a little research and utilise your judgment. Apply common sense to common courtesy and you'll exist fine.

Be conscientious sending nutrient.

You should be enlightened of dietary restrictions, allergies, and religious customs.

At a Buddhist funeral, it would not be appropriate to transport food. This would be considered poor funeral etiquette. Some Buddhist families may consider a souvenir of vegetarian food appropriate, though. Information technology is always all-time to cheque starting time.

I can't be there, now what?

This is the all-time fourth dimension to ship flowers, a fruit basket, or a nice plant! Yous volition still be showing your love and back up by providing a thoughtful gift.

You can as well donate to a favorite charity in the deceased's proper noun. Be certain to be there for the family afterward the funeral.

Related: Unable to Attend the Funeral Letter Examples

Can I send more than i sympathy gift?

I personally love this thought: Send a bill of fare or gift on the anniversary of the starting time month, the third month, the sixth month, and one twelvemonth. (Tip: Put reminders in your phone's calendar.)

This is a fantastic way to let the family know that you are still thinking of their loved one.

Retrieve, the grieving process takes time. A lot of gifts are sent in the start ii weeks. Information technology will mean so much to the family to receive mementos during the first year post-obit the death.

Is information technology advisable to send a gift if I don't know the family?

Aye, it is. It will mean and then very much to the family unit to know how their loved one affected your life. Write a little note to let the family know "how you lot knew" their loved i. "Information technology was and so wonderful working with Jonathon for the last few years. He brightened my day and will be greatly missed."

The family volition often collect and save all the stories, photos, and condolence notes to put into a scrapbook or memory jar. On that note, a scrapbook or retentiveness jar plus a couple of mitt-written memories of their loved one would exist a meaningful gift.

Is it acceptable to send a gift if I don't know the deceased?

Yes, it is. Helping a grieving friend through this difficult time will permit them know they are supported. Information technology will feel good for the family unit to know that you lot are thinking of them at this time.

I don't desire to transport a gift, what tin I practise?

This is a common question. Give of your time! Offer to help make clean firm, practice laundry, brand meals, mow the lawn or even babysit. During this stressful time, sometimes this is the best gift—just a lilliputian actress time for themselves. Assist is always welcome!

What To Write In a Gift Note

For the gift note, it's usually best to keep it simple.

Admit the loss
Offering your sympathies/condolences
Let them know y'all are thinking of/praying for them, you love them, are wishing them condolement and peace, etc (as appropriate to your human relationship)
Sign off – be sure to say who the gift is from!

Learn more:

101 Condolence Messages You Should ~~Steal~~ Borrow
Sympathy Bill of fare Messages & Quotes for Loss
How to Write a Condolence Letter

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Source: https://www.usurnsonline.com/memorials/what-should-i-send-as-a-memorial-gift-instead-of-flowers/