What To Send For A Funeral? 8 Great Alternatives To Sympathy Flowers

Want To Go The Extra Mile? Here’s What to Send When Someone Dies Instead of Flowers

Traditionally, flowers have always been the quintessential funeral gift. If you’re ever in doubt about what to send for a funeral, you can never go wrong with flowers. That said, sometimes, you may want to go the extra mile and do something different for your friends and family when they are grieving the loss of a loved one. If that’s the case, there are many alternative funeral gifts that you can consider bringing to a ceremony instead. You can opt for a personalized gift, a functional gift, or even one that celebrates the person they have lost. If these sound like good ideas to you, check out this list of 8 great alternatives to sympathy flowers.

1. Photographs they don’t have - If you are a close relative or a family friend, it is possible that you may have some photos of the family they don’t have themselves. It would be a warm surprise for the grieving family to receive these photographs during a difficult time like the loss of a loved one. You could compile these photos into an album and take it to the funeral as a gift.
2. Some good food - If you’re wondering what to take to a funeral, a sympathy meal may also be a good choice. This can be incredibly helpful because it means one less responsibility for the grieving family. You could have boxed or packaged meals delivered to their door if you’re in a different city. Alternatively, you could get together with some friends and families and organize a potluck too.
3. A service package - When planning a funeral, the people who are grieving may not have time for other mundane responsibilities like housekeeping, yard work, running errands and tending to their lawns. You could give them a helping hand by paying for funeral service package that takes care of these activities. If you’re available in person, you could also offer to babysit the kids, get groceries or the like. 
4. A self-care box - Self-care may not be the first thing you think of when you are considering what to take to a funeral as a gift. However, it’s a gift that will no doubt be much appreciated, because it is often hard for the grieving family to take care of themselves when they are planning a funeral. Your self-care basket could include a spa appointment, some comfortable pajamas, bath and body products and the like.
5. Handwritten notes or letters - Another great idea for the dilemma of what to send for a funeral instead of flowers? Handwritten notes. The gift may seem trivial at first thought, but if you are particularly close to the family that is in mourning, they will no doubt find some warmth and comfort in handwritten letters from you. 
6. Something practical for the funeral - You could also consider getting something handy and practical for the funeral. Some ideas in this category include useful gifts like invitations for the memorial service, guestbooks, cremation urns or thank you cards. These are all things that the grieving family could actually  use in the ceremony, and it saves them the trouble of having to take care of these aspects.
7. A donation for the funeral - This can be a tricky area to navigate. However, if you know that the family is having a tough time meeting the funeral costs, and if you are close enough to them, you can offer to contribute to the service financially. Talk to the family in question and let them know of your intention beforehand if need be. 
8. Something a tad bit extravagant - If you’re the kind of person who likes to offer extravagant gifts, grand gestures may be the perfect choice for you. You could splurge on a bereavement stone, install a memorial bench in the locality or even name a little piece of the galaxy after the person who has passed away. Gestures like these will undoubtedly bring a smile on the face of those who are grieving.

Ultimately, It Is The Thought That Counts

If it’s your first time picking out a bereavement gift, you may be quite unsure about the right course of action. The ideas outlined above can help you to a large extent and resolve the dilemma of what to send for a funeral instead of flowers. However, it is also important to remember that more than the right kind of gift, it is the thought behind it that counts. So, do not hesitate to extend your condolences in the form of a funeral gift. It may be a small gesture for you, but it could mean a lot for the family that is going through a tough time from the loss of a loved one.