We’ve been there- a loved one, friend, or colleague is experiencing a loss and you would like to send a bereavement gift to support them in their loss. Remembrance gifts and sympathy gifts can be a meaningful way to offer comfort during a difficult time. But they can also be challenging to shop for and there are some important factors to which you will need to be sensitive.
Unique Memorial Gifts That Provide Comfort and Support
What to consider when shopping for a Bereavement or Memorial Gift
An important factor to keep in mind when searching for a unique memorial gift or a thoughtful bereavement gift is that you are looking for a gift for them, not for you. This is to say, you need to consider what they value, what this loss means to them, and what could foster comfort for them without projecting your feelings. Seems simple but it can make the difference between a unique and thoughtful sympathy gift versus something destined for a landfill and void of meaning.
Thoughtful bereavement gifts do not need to be expensive to express your support. Sometimes a practical sympathy gift or simple memorial gift can mean the world to someone. Homemade gifts can be beautiful! Other times, a larger investment might be truly special to the griever. Questions that can help you while you select an appropriate bereavement gift might be:
- How close am I to the person for whom I’m shopping?
- What do they appreciate in their day-to-day life?
- Have they expressed a need or want for anything in particular?
You may also want to consider the timeline for your bereavement gift. Folks often feel a sense of urgency immediately following a loss, but unfortunately this can result in grievers not receiving special support or attention months after the loss when the grief can really start to sink in. It’s never too late to send a bereavement gift- grief has no timeline and letting someone know you’re thinking of them does not expire after the funeral. In fact, sometimes you might consider sending a bereavement gift (depending on the situation):
- Upon learning about the death
- A week or two after the funeral or memorial service
- Around the holidays or any big milestones (the deceased’s birthday, for example)
- The anniversary of the death
Ultimately, each situation is going to be different: just like grief, it will vary from person to person. A bereavement gift will never be able to fix grief but they can help make sure a griever feels seen, thought of, and cared.
Bereavement Gift Suggestions that are Personal and Thoughtful
Memorial gift for someone who doesn’t want an urn but isn’t going to scatter the cremains: Parting Stone
Parting Stone takes cremated remains and turns them into unique stones. These beautiful stones can be held and shared with loved ones. Some people even paint their stones or incorporate them into altars.
Legacy gift for someone who loved the Earth, nature, and the outdoors: Memorial Trees
Memorial trees are a beautiful way to honor the memory of someone. These living tributes help to restore forests, nurture wildlife, and give back. They can symbolize remembrance, hope, and renewal.
Bereavement gift for someone looking for support with introspection: Ngaio Parr’s The Grief Companion
The Grief Companion is a deck of cards featuring lovely illustrations and organized into ‘Insight,’ ‘Action,’ and ‘Prompt’ categories. The cards are non-linear and offer resources, ideas, and insights for grievers that can be incorporated into daily routine or as needed for extra guidance.
Remembrance gift for someone looking for a way to share photos and memories: Keeper Memorial Page
Unlike static death notices, Memorial pages offer an ongoing opportunity for loved ones and community members to share memories, stories, and pictures. Keeper Memorial Pages boast all of the features you would expect (a place to share a biography, the opportunity to upload photos), but also include comprehensive and engaging features to honor their legacy- such as the Map Story feature or an Event Page where folks can learn about an end-of-life event and RSVP.
Remembrance gift for someone looking for a deluxe memorial gift: Eterneva (Diamonds from cremains)
This Memorial Diamond Company will take cremains, and other carbon-containing items like hair, and turn them into one-of-a-kind diamonds and pieces of jewelry. The process isolates carbon from the cremains and through heat and pressure in a controlled environment, to transform the carbon into a raw diamond. Their jewelry consultants will work with you to craft a piece of jewelry unique to you.
Sympathy gift for someone who could use a good hug: Blankets
Blankets are seemingly simple but having an extra layer of warmth to wrap up into after a long day can bring another layer of comfort to someone. You can personalize a blanket through color and pattern selection, blending the practical with something more sentimental as well. While there are many providers of blankets, we love Eighth Generation blankets for their array of designs, sizes, and textures.
Bereavement gift for someone who would benefit from a care package: Good Grief Grief Care Packages
Why choose between a few items when you can send someone a whole care package? Good Grief offers pre-curated packages, with specific scenarios in mind, or the opportunity to curate your own. These care packages include items that tap into different senses (teas, candles, socks, lotion) and sensibilities (dark humour, gentle, calm).
Sympathy gift for someone who is feeling disconnected: We’re Not Really Strangers Card Game
In this era of social disconnection and therapy-speak, it’s easy for people to have entire conversations without ever really saying anything. Grief can already be quite isolating and discouraging, add in painful small talk and it is simply salt in the wound. We’re Not Really Strangers is a card game full of thoughtful conversation prompts. It can be particularly useful for loved ones feeling distant or disconnected from one another while in the throes of grief.
Bereavement gift for someone who would benefit from a little extra loveliness: Soap
Hand-made soap is another example of something quotidian and practical but beautiful and thoughtful. A nice hand-made soap can transform daily showers or baths from a routine into a ritual. From Sisters Sage, we recommend the cedar or rose (both plants with long histories of grief support).
Sympathy gift for someone who could use a little warmth: Chili Crisp
I don’t know if there is any scientific evidence supporting that a little spice is good for the heart but emotionally, it rings true. A little heat can take a boring simple dish and bring it such life and vibrancy, which can be just the thing to help cut through the fog of grief.
Memorial gift for someone who wants to share their loved one’s story: KeeperQR
Have you ever looked at a headstone and wondered about the whole life lived between the birth date and death date? With a QR code built for Memorials, you can. A KeeperQR is a weather-resistant plaque with a custom QR code that links directly to your loved one’s memorial page. When placed on a headstone, urn, bench, or tree, it allows friends and family to scan and view their life story instantly.
Bereavement gift for the tender hearted: Memory bear
Whether you’re looking for a bereavement gift for someone younger, or one that speaks to a more tender part of someone’s being, a memory bear is a personal and adorable option. Memory bears are often made out of an article of clothing or piece of fabric, like a blanket, of the honoree- so each bear is hand crafted and completely unique. This can be a sweet way to morph an old t-shirt into something that will be treasured and reached for in times in need of comfort.
We hope that this guide for unique memorial gifts that provide comfort and support can help you find a bereavement gift or sympathy gift tailored to the person you are looking to support or at least spark some ideas! Unique memorial and bereavement gifts come in all shapes and sizes- just like grief.
Memorial Gifts FAQ
How much should I spend on a bereavement gift?
A meaningful gift does not need to be overly grand or expensive, this is a situation where the thought counts so you do want to intentionally select a gift.
What is the best timeline for a sympathy gift?
There is no exact timeline! Late is better than never and as grief continues, so does the need for support.
What shouldn’t I get someone as a bereavement gift?
This will vary from person to person but generally speaking you should avoid anything that foists religious, spiritual, or political beliefs they do not share. You should keep in mind that you are buying this sympathy or memorial gift for them, therefore it should connect with their perspectives, wants, and needs.
How do I come up with an idea for a memorial gift?
When considering a memorial gift we recommend considering how you can reflect what the honoree loved and cared about during their life. If they loved the natural world, a memorial tree would be an excellent option. If they cared about animals, make a donation to your local no-kill shelter in their name.
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