Sympathy gifts for loved ones going through a difficult time
This post is all about gifts for grieving friends.
So you have a friend or family member who lost someone close to them. I’m so sorry for their loss and the ache you probably feel for them. When you’re looking for gifts for grieving friends and family, it can be hard to know what to do because you may not feel you have the right words or ideas.
I really think this blog post will help! I’m sharing a bunch of gift ideas for grieving friends and family members: Everything from memorial gifts, to practical gifts, to budget-friendly gifts, and beyond.
Whether it’s food baskets or gift cards or something homemade or customizable, this gift list has it all, and I really think you’ll find something here that will be an encouragement to your grieving close friend or family member.
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BEST GIFTS FOR GRIEVING FRIENDS AND FAMILY:
When you're grieving, sometimes what you really need is words that truly speak to your soul and give you language for how you're feeling.
This book has countless reviews from grievers all over the world who share that this truly helped them get through their time of need. This would be the perfect gift for a grieving friend who is struggling to see through all their hurt right now; especially if you feel you don't have the right words to comfort them.
Custom wind chimes are a great way to help your gift recipient honor the loved one they lost.
This is one of the best sympathy gifts if you want to share something that this grieving person will be able to use for years to come as a reminder of person they lost and a way to continually celebrate that person's life.
If the person you're shopping for lost a best friend or close family member, see if you can find a photo of them with the person they lost and turn it into this faceless memorial portrait. This is a thoughtful gesture and a piece of art they can cherish for years to come.
If you're looking for unique sympathy gifts, this light-up acrylic picture frame is a great way to make sure that the loved one they lost always gets some extra attention in their house. This picture frame is a beautiful way to remind them of the wonderful memories they have with this person they lost.
Sometimes, all you need is a sense of comfort and it doesn't really matter what the actual gift is if you know people are thinking of you. That's why I love this "sending a hug" gift basket.
This is a great way to give your loved one some practical items in their time of grief. It won't bring their loved ones back, but it is a thoughtful gift that will remind them they still have people who care.
This custom angel globe is a beautiful heartfelt sympathy gift. It's an affordable and special way to help your gift recipient honor their loved one in a meaningful way.
I love this memorial necklace. This is something that you can gift to express your condolences, and your loved one can wear it to remember the person they lost and carry around their memory at all times.
A grief care package can be a powerful gift. It's beautiful, aesthetic, and encouraging. You can add a handwritten card with a meaningful message to this gift to make it even more special.
If you're working on a budget but still want to express sympathy, order a customized sympathy card. This is an easy way to take it one step further than purchasing a generic card (not that there is anything wrong with that).
When someone is grieving, thoughtfulness goes a long way which is why I love this idea.
Aromatherapy can be great for relaxation and calming the nervous system. When you're going through grief, your body is under a lot of stress, so aromatherapy candles can actually go along way.
A memorial garden stone can be a great way to express condolences and showcase your support for grieving friends and family members. What better place to honor the life of the loved one you lost than by placing a memorial stone in your very own garden?
A memorial bird feeder is such a lovely gift, because what better way to honor someone than to dedicate something to them that will fuel existing life and bring lots of beautiful creatures together in their memory?
You can customize this sterling silver bracelet with the initials of the loved one who passed away. This is a great way to keep their memory closeby in a touching way.
This stress release kit from Saje is a simple but wonderful way to relieve stress and give your grieving friend a practical way to calm themself down whenever they start to get overwhelmed.
You can get a totally customized personal angel wing mug like this by uploading a photo of your friend and the loved one that they lost. This will quickly become the mug they put on display or the dish they drink out of every morning to fuel themself with the warmth of their loved one.
These Willow Tree figurines are a lovely way to honor a dear friend who has passed away. This is a great way to make sure you always have a memory of your loved ones in your home.
A journal is a great place for your grieving loved one to process their emotions. Sometimes, the most practical gift you can get is something that will help you process the grief you're going through as you make your way through the healing process.
Your loved one might write about some really difficult emotions in here, but a journal might be one of the most powerful gifts they get because it will go a long way in helping them process the most difficult emotions they have possibly ever felt.
An adult coloring book can be super relaxing. They may not seem overly practical at first glance, but this can be a really therapeutic activity for a grieving person who needs the time and space to process their emotions without getting overwhelmed.
Self-care gifts are great gifts for grieving friends too, and a bath bomb set is a great affordable option.
Nobody really talks about all the paperwork that falls on certain people when a family member dies. If you're shopping for a grieving friend or family member who is needing to do lots of planning or paperwork as a result of this death, a file desk organizer is a practical gift that will make them feel so seen.
A throw blanket is a really simple but comforting gift that any grieving person would likely appreciate.
If you're looking for a condolence gift for someone who is spiritual or religious, this book "Every Moment Holy" has specific prayers for different situations of grief and is really helpful for sorting through some of the difficult emotions that come with losing a loved one. The person you're shopping for can find the prayers that resonate most strongly with them and continue to read and repeat them daily for comfort.
This is a practical gift to help someone walk through the stages of grief and daily life after losing a loved one. Whether this is their first major loss or just one of many, this is a practical and helpful book.
Sometimes, it's helpful to have something walk you through how to honor your loved one, process your emotions, and keep their memory alive. That's why I like this guided grief journal, which would be such a thoughtful sympathy gift.
Homemade food basket
Practical gifts are sometimes the best for those going through a hard time. If you’re looking for the perfect sympathy gift basket, make a bunch of your favorite homemade recipes (or get everyone in your family or friend group to pitch in with freezer meals and baked goods).
You can then deliver this to your grieving friend, which is such a thoughtful way to give them some practical relief as they endure the grieving process.
Restaurant gift card
When you’re grieving, the most normal things sometimes become the most difficult — and that includes cooking. When you think about gifts for grieving friends, a restaurant gift card might sound a little random. But it’s actually one of the most practical gifts you can give.
Handwritten note and flowers
Writing a handwritten note will give such a personal touch to any bouquet of flowers. You can even add a comforting quote or Bible verse.
Cookies from a local bakery
A sweet treat is always a good sentimental gift. If you’re looking for a sympathy gift box that will bring them some level of joy, a box of cookies from a local bakery is perfect.
Soup gift basket
Whether you make them homemade soup or put together a gift basket of soups from the grocery store, soup is a nice, warming comfort food and makes for a super easy meal that will help anyone going through tough times.
Plus, many people find it difficult to eat during times of intense grief, and soup can be a great remedy for that.
Gift a home cleaning
One of the most practical gifts for grieving friends is to either pay for a cleaning service or even clean their house yourself. Daily tasks can sometimes become the most difficult thing to do when you’re grieving, and doing this for a friend will feel like a warm hug to them in their tough time.
Spa day
Gifting a spa day is another great way to honor a family member or friend who is grieving. Whether you give them this special gift so they can take a day to themself or whether you go with them for some emotional support, this is a lovely way to help them feel loved and relaxed.
Grocery store gift card
If the person you’re shopping for has had to deal with funeral costs and other financial stresses, a gift card to a grocery store is the simplest and most helpful thing they may get. You can even come together with a bunch of other friends and family to put more money into a gift card that will ease the burden of paying for groceries for a while as they grieve.
Gift basket of bread
Bread is such a comfort food. Whether you bake them homemade bread or buy all different kinds of bread to create a gift basket, bread makes for a great sympathy basket.
DoorDash or UberEats gift card
I already mentioned taking some of the daily tasks off their plate like cleaning and cooking, but another great way to do this is to get them a DoorDash or UberEats gift card so that they can order their favorite comfort food whenever they want.
Baked goods gift basket
Come together with some family and friends to make baked goods for your grieving loved one. You can give them a gift basket of all kinds of baked goods that they can eat now (hey, no judgment), enjoy with loved ones, or freeze for future hard days.
