Meaningful Bereavement Gift Ideas

This site should be a place to start, a place to give you ideas. Take these ideas and personalize them for your loved one.

If you knew the person who died:

Think about the person who died for a few minutes. If you knew them well, think about the things that were important to them. Find a gift along those lines to give as a keepsake gift. Because it was important to that person, it will be important to your friend.

It's always a good idea to share your memories. Your friend needs to know that their loved one won't be forgotten. Your friend needs to hear about how their loved one touched others lives. Sharing your memories may bring a few tears, but they are the good kind.

If you did not know the person who died:

You can still give a very valuable, personalized gift. You know what's important to your friend, so give a gift that you know will have some value. The "Remembering with Love" book is a great idea. The symbolism behind butterflies and angels also makes those meaningful bereavement gifts.

What NOT to do:

Please don't buy flowers for a friend grieving the loss of a loved one! Trust me, they will get plenty from other well meaning souls - but now you, at least, know better.

Here's why: when the flowers die, they only serve as a reminder of your friend's loss. They are very difficult to throw away, and very difficult to look at, all whithered and dying.

And plants are good only for someone with a green thumb. If the plant dies, that will only make your friend feel worse for not being able to keep the plant alive. (Yes, I'm speaking from experience here.)