What do you bring to a funeral? What is an appropriate gift for a funeral or memorial service? Are you supposed to bring a gift, or should you even consider it?
This topic is a bit of a downer, but these are important funeral gift etiquette questions that, sadly, get asked quite often.
I was a customer service specialist for a cremation urn and memorial gift company for over ten years. In that time, I personally spoke on the phone to many customers who had these very questions, so I have become quite familiar with the topic.
Funerals aren’t something we really think about or plan for, so when the time comes the question is pressing: What is the gift-giving etiquette for when you see or visit a family after a loved one has passed away?
Read on to learn the proper etiquette for gifts at funerals and memorial services.
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What to Bring to a Funeral
You are not required to bring anything to a funeral. However, if you would like to make a thoughtful gesture, here are the best options for what to bring to a funeral:
- Flowers
- Card
- Food for the reception
- Photos of the deceased
- Small, unobtrusive gift
You may also bring any of these to a memorial service, celebration of life, funeral viewing, or wake.
You should not bring anything to a graveside service or ashes spreading ceremony.
What Not to Bring to a Funeral
Do not bring large, expensive, or perishable items to the funeral. Those kinds of gifts are more appropriate to deliver to the family’s home.
Also, do not bring your cell phone (or at least keep it tucked away with the volume off).
The Question: Should I Bring A Gift To A Funeral?
The first part question has to do with should, as in, Do I have to? The correct answer is, no. You don’t have to bring a gift for the family when you go to a funeral.
Of course, for most important occasions, it’s always a good idea not to arrive empty-handed, and especially so if you’re a close friend of the family.
That’s why funeral flowers are so popular as funeral gifts. A fresh bouquet of flowers is a simple, beautiful, and heartwarming gesture that honors the decedent and shows others that you care.
But not everyone likes flowers. Some pundits even suggest that you shouldn’t give sympathy flowers because they will inevitably remind the recipient of death as they decay. Not the greatest option for the sensitive types, eh?
Still, flowers are traditional, so most people will appreciate flowers brought to the funeral. It can be a full funeral bouquet or a single rose. It can be expensive or just a few dollars.
The point is to bring something that shows respect for the person who passed away and to demonstrate to the deceased’s family that you care enough to go out and get a small token of your love.
There are also a variety of memorial gift alternatives that many families appreciate. We’ll get into that in a bit, but first, let’s summarize where we’re at so far.
Question: Should I bring a gift to a memorial service?
Answer: You don’t have to bring a gift, and in most cases it’s not expected or required. But a small, thoughtful gift is a nice gesture and probably a good idea if you’re especially close to the family of the deceased.
The Other Question: Should I Bring A Gift To A Funeral?
The other part of the question involves the occasion for the gift. A funeral is a communal event, and all that is really required at the funeral itself is your respectful attendance.
If you want to give a memorial gift to the family, that is a wonderful gesture. But should you bring it to the actual funeral or memorial service?
The week or two after the death of a loved one is a blur for most family members, during which they see many people, make many decisions, and get all sorts of small gifts.
It’s probably best to wait for two weeks after the death, or about a week after the funeral, and then contact the family to ask if you can drop off the gift or if they would prefer a visit.
Tip: Always ask if you can stay and visit, and give them the option to just have you drop it off at the door or on the doorstep. Some grieving people have days when they need to be alone; others feel alone and appreciate the company. Be ok with either.
Small gifts like flowers, cards, or small food items are a good choice. You can give these types of items to the family and it will be a pleasant gesture that isn’t a distraction.
If you would like to give something bigger, more involved, or more meaningful, it would probably be best to give it at another occasion. Save the gift until you can stop by for a visit or drop it off at the house.
At the end of this article we address a few common questions about memorial gift etiquette and funerals. But first, here are a few ideas for what to give at a funeral, and what to send when you can’t attend.
5 Memorial Gift Ideas To Bring To The Funeral
Each of these memorial gifts are small enough to easily bring to the funeral.
1. Single Flower
Inexpensive yet heartfelt and touching. A elegant token that shows you’ve taken the time to select something beautiful in honor of the departed, yet simple enough that you can leave for the funeral twenty minutes early and easily pick one up at a flower shop.
2. Sympathy Bouquet
The classic gift to bring to a memorial service. These are the traditional “funeral flowers,” and in some circles can be an expected gift from family and friends.
Lots of meaning can be conveyed in your flower choice, as the symbolism of various funeral flowers is fairly well known.
Simply give the flowers to the funeral director or funeral home staff when you arrive. They’ll ensure that the flowers are displayed appropriately and are given to the grieving family after the service.
Be sure to attach a handwritten note or card so that the bereaved family will know that the flowers are from you.
3. Sympathy Card
Take the time to write out a brief note expressing your condolences. Here are some tips on what to write; and here are some creative and/or handmade sympathy cards.
4. Gift Certificate
A gift certificate for a favorite restaurant or store can go a long way. Give an Olive Garden or Applebee’s card if the whole family is visiting and tends to eat out.
For a family with tough finances ahead try a WalMart gift card or something from the local grocery store, or maybe go with Starbucks or Subway for the busy mom or working dad.
Gift cards for local restaurants and coffee shops are always appreciated.
5. Food
Food is a true funeral tradition. Bring your special comfort food recipe to the funeral reception, along with some disposable containers so that the family can take the leftovers home.
Also, consider the family’s needs before or after the service. Few people feel up to cooking after a loved one dies. So consider bringing a hot meal, or one for the freezer.
Better yet, make sure the family is receiving plenty of food now and then arrange to bring a meal three or four weeks down the road for after the immediate attention dries up. Here’s a helpful Guide to Sympathy Meals After A Funeral.
5 Memorial Gift Ideas To Send If You Can’t Attend The Funeral
Memorial gift etiquette is evolving; no longer are you restricted to sending flowers and food gift baskets.
Here are a few creative options for sympathy and memorial gifts for when you can’t attend the funeral.
The most important thing to remember: Whatever type of gift you choose, include a note to personally express your condolences.
1. Personalized Memorial Bird Feeder
Many people are choosing unique alternatives to sending the traditional funeral flowers. One proven choice is this Personalized Cedar Wood Bird Feeder, which can feature one of many themes such as the Bird on a Branch (above).
Other themes include Butterfly, Celtic Cross, Elk Hunting, Soaring Eagle, and more. Additionally, you get the person’s name and dates etched onto the clear front panel with an “In Loving Memory” inscription.
Also available with military service emblems or with completely customizable text on both sides.
2. Memorial Stone
This decorative memorial garden stone is a popular sympathy gift idea for the outdoors. The memorial stone features leaves and butterflies, and reads,
Those we love don’t go away.
They walk beside us every day.
Unseen, unheard, but always near;
Still loved, still missed, and always dear.
There are also customizable garden stones that include name and dates; here is a popular and elegant one.
Related: In Memory of Mom Gift Ideas
3. Memorial Wreath
This gorgeous organic California-grown Succulent Sympathy Wreath conveys the meaning of serenity, grace, and calmness.
Browse more locally grown and harvested organic sympathy succulent gifts here.
4. Photo Album
This gorgeous rosewood and maple wood photo album is a true heirloom gift. Custom engraved with name and dates, it makes the perfect sympathy present for when you can’t attend the funeral service. The quote depicted here reads,
Love is how you stay alive, even after you are gone.
Available with just about any personalization you can dream up here.
5. Memorial Jewelry
The “Eternally Loved” cremation memorial necklace is a lovely little gift that reads, “no longer by my side; forever in my heart.”
It includes a locket for small keepsakes that says “Dad” or “Sister” or “Grandma” (etc). Ideal for anyone who has expressed an interest in keeping a small amount of cremated remains close to their heart.
There are many other types of elegant cremation jewelry pieces, from attractive & affordable stainless steel designs to premium sterling silver memorials. These last include rings, bracelets, and necklaces in a wide selection of styles with custom engraving available, including fingerprint jewelry.
Nowadays, cremation and traditional full-body burial are chosen at about the same rate. If the departed is being buried in the traditional manner, memorial jewelry can still be used to hold a lock of hair or perhaps a bit of earth from the burial site.
There are other options for jewelry as memorial gifts; here are some beautiful and meaningful jewelry sympathy gift ideas.
Questions About What to Bring to a Memorial Service or Funeral
Here are some important things to consider when giving a gift at this challenging time.
How expensive should a funeral gift be?
Your gift doesn’t need to break the bank, but it should also convey the amount of love and respect that you would like it to show. Most funeral flower bouquets can be had for $20-100, so that’s a good price range.
Calculate in your own personal life situation and budget, as well as the family’s sensibilities, and you should be able to come up with a good price range for your gift.
This is one of those occasions where it really is true that it’s the thought that counts. So a single rose, a small floral bouquet, a box of nice chocolates, or a decent bottle of wine can all be entirely appropriate gifts, and all can be found for less than $20.
There are many good options available for any budget.
Can I still bring a gift if the family asks for a donation in lieu of flowers?
Yes, you can still give a gift even if the family asks for something “in lieu of flowers.” Definitely give the charitable donation first, and mention it to the family.
Not as a humblebrag, but to let them know that you have honored their request and that you would still like to give them something on top of the donation.
Should I send a gift if there isn’t a funeral?
Yes, by all means. Sending a memorial gift sends a message to the family that you are thinking about them and care enough to get a gift.
The death of a loved one is very difficult, and there are many reasons why a family might not have a funeral – whether by choice or necessity.
A sympathy gift is a great way to provide some communal support and comfort when the family isn’t (for whatever reason) able to get that from a service.
Should I still send a gift if the funeral is over?
Of course! As mentioned above, the week or two after the death of a loved one are busy times. It’s afterwards that the grief truly sets in. Your gift might be even more appreciated if it arrives after the funeral.
Everyone is different, and has different opinions about this, but most often the recipient will simply be thankful that your are thinking of them.
Learn more: The 12 Stages of the Grieving Process (Yes, There’s More Than 5)
Should I expect a response from the recipient?
No. Of course most people will respond at some point – it may be a thank-you note sent promptly after the funeral, or it might be a phone call or text two months down the road.
Be patient, and don’t be offended or pushy about it. They’ll either get around to it, forgot, or thought they already responded.
Whatever the case may be, remember that it’s a difficult time for the recipient, and that the gift is about them and not you.
