Grief is a profound and deeply personal journey, and finding the right words to console a grieving loved one can often be a challenging task. However, there is a language of empathy that transcends words – the language of thoughtful sympathy gifts.
In this blog post, we’ve carefully curated a collection of 30 such gifts, each designed to provide solace, comfort and support to those navigating the difficult path of mourning. These tokens of compassion are more than mere presents; they represent a heartfelt presence, a reminder that in the midst of sorrow, they are not alone.
Join us as we explore a world of meaningful gestures that speak volumes in times of loss.
30 Sympathy Gifts To Show You Care
Nature and Remembrance Sympathy Gifts
Forget-Me-Not Gift of Seeds
A Forget-Me-Not Gift of Seeds is a thoughtful and meaningful way to express condolences to a grieving loved one.
This beautifully designed gift not only contains a packet of seeds that can be planted in memory of the departed, serving as a symbol of remembrance and hope, but there’s space on the back to write a condolence message.
The forget-me-not flower is known for its delicate beauty and represents the everlasting bonds of love and friendship. The recipient can nurture these seeds into a beautiful plant, creating a lasting tribute to the person they have lost.
Everlasting Daisy Gift of Seeds
Aside from spending time with a grieving person, a gift can provide some comfort during a deeply emotional time.
A Gift of Seeds offers a unique and meaningful way to express your deepest condolences and growing flowers with significant meanings can offer a comforting reminder of a deceased loved one as time passes.
If you’re looking for a way to commemorate a loved one’s memory, consider everlasting daisies. These flowers symbolise the enduring nature of a person’s spirit and affection.
Flower Press
Giving a flower press as a sympathy gift is a thoughtful way to help friends or family members during their grieving process.
This simple yet beautiful gift allows them to preserve the memory of their loved one through the beauty of flowers.
With a flower press, they can turn flowers from the funeral or memorial service into a lasting keepsake. This is a meaningful way to honour the memory of a loved one and provide comfort to those who are grieving.
Flower pressing is also a therapeutic activity that can help those who are grieving to find comfort and peace during a difficult time.
Plant a Tree in Their Honour
Planting a tree in honour of a loved one who has passed away is a beautiful way to keep their memory alive and provide comfort to those who are grieving. A tree is a symbol of life, growth and strength, and it can serve as a lasting tribute to the person who has passed away.
Trees For Life Memory Tree Program provides beautiful living memorials for families and friends whose loved ones have passed away, creating native habitat as a living tribute.
In partnership with Alfred James Funeral Homes, Trees For Life has planted over 55,000 native trees and shrubs across hundreds of hectares of land since it was first established in 1991.
A tree is a gift that will continue to grow and thrive, just as the memory of the loved one will continue to live on in the hearts of those who knew them.
Memorial Garden Stone
Losing a loved one is one of the most difficult experiences anyone can go through. When someone we care about loses someone they love, it can be hard to know what to do or say.
One thoughtful way to express your condolences is by giving a Memorial Garden Stone. These stones can be personalised with the name and dates of the loved one, as well as a special message or quote.
They provide a meaningful and lasting tribute to the person who has passed away and can be placed in a garden or other outdoor space as a reminder of the love and memories that will always remain.
Custom Engraved Wind Chime
Engraved wind chimes are a truly heartfelt and compassionate way to express your sympathy.
The gentle and soothing melodies they produce can offer solace during difficult times and personalising them with an engraving is a touching way to honour the memory of a loved one.
Additionally, they serve as a meaningful keepsake that your loved one can treasure for years to come.
Personalised Keepsakes Sympathy Gifts
Customised Memorial Jewellery
Giving customised memorial jewellery with a finger imprint as a condolence gift is a deeply empathetic gesture.
It shows that you understand the profound loss your loved one is experiencing and you want to offer them a tangible way to keep their loved one close to their heart.
The customised fingerprint adds a personal and intimate touch that speaks to the unique essence of the person who has passed. This gift is a beautiful and heartfelt way to express your condolences and offer comfort and solace during a difficult time.
Customised Memory Teddy Bear
Giving a customised teddy bear as a sympathy gift, especially for children, is a thoughtful and heartwarming gesture.
The Eddy Bear Company’s Memory Bears are an exceptional way to honour the memory of a loved one. These personalised Teddy Bears hold either a portion of your loved one’s ashes or a special memento inside their red heart, serving as a tangible reminder of their presence.
The teddy bear’s comforting nature and personalised touch can offer a sense of comfort and solace to a grieving child and serve as a cherished keepsake for years to come.
Personalised Memorial Ornament
Losing a loved one can be devastating, especially during the Christmas season. If you’re looking for a thoughtful sympathy gift, consider giving an engraved glass keepsake ornament.
These beautiful glass ornaments can be customised with a message or design that honours your loved one’s memory.
They serve as a touching reminder of the special moments shared with them, keeping their memory alive during the holiday season and beyond.
Name a Star
Naming a star as a sympathy gift holds a special significance because it symbolises a timeless connection to the departed loved one.
It offers a sense of comfort and a feeling that their memory will continue to shine, just like the star in the night sky.
It’s a lasting and unique tribute that provides solace and a sense of permanence during times of grief.
Personalised Photo Book
Losing a loved one can be one of the most difficult experiences in life. One thoughtful way to express your condolences is by giving a customised photo book as a sympathy gift.
The book can be personalised with photos and memories of the loved one, as well as special quotes or messages. It serves as a beautiful tribute to the person who has passed away and can provide comfort and healing for those who are grieving.
A customised photo book can also be a way to preserve cherished memories and keep the loved one’s memory alive. It’s a thoughtful and meaningful gift that will be treasured for years to come.
Personalised Keepsake Box
Gifting a personalised keepsake box as a sympathy gift offers a thoughtful way for the grieving to hold onto cherished memories of their loved one.
It provides a secure space for treasured mementos and serves as a lasting reminder of the person they’ve lost.
The box can be customised with the recipient’s name or a special message and can be used to store cherished items such as photos, letters or other mementos.
Comfort and Healing Sympathy Gifts
Sympathy Candle
A sympathy candle is a thoughtful condolence gift because it provides a soothing and calming effect during a difficult time.
The warm glow and comforting scent of a candle can help ease the pain of grief and provide a sense of peace and relaxation. It’s a beautiful way to honour the memory of a loved one and let them know that they are never forgotten.
Additionally, the candle can serve as a physical reminder of the love and support given by those who care.
A Subscription to a Mindfulness App
A subscription to a mindfulness app is a unique condolence gift that can help the grieving process.
Mindfulness practices have been proven to help reduce stress and anxiety and promote emotional well-being.
A subscription to a mindfulness app provides access to guided meditations, breathing exercises and other tools that can help the recipient cope with their loss.
It’s a gift that keeps on giving, providing a valuable resource for self-care and emotional support during a difficult time.
A Comforting Blanket
It can be difficult to find the right words to comfort someone who has lost a loved one during tough times. However, a comforting blanket can be a thoughtful and meaningful way to show that you care.
The softness and warmth of the blanket can provide a sense of comfort and security, serving as a reminder that you are there for them – a symbolic embrace that transcends physical distance when you can’t be present in person.
Relaxation and Self-Care Basket
Giving a Relaxation and Self-Care Basket as a sympathy gift can provide a much-needed moment of peace and relaxation during a difficult time.
The basket can offer a variety of items such as candles, bath products and teas, that promote self-care and stress relief, allowing the recipient to take a moment to focus on their well-being and ease their grief.
Grief and Healing Books
Grief and Healing Books can provide a source of comfort and support to someone who has recently experienced loss.
These books offer guidance on how to navigate the grieving process, providing practical advice and emotional support.
By giving these books as a sympathy gift, you are helping the recipient cope with their loss and find hope in their journey toward healing.
Donation
Precious Wings is an incredible charity that supports mothers and families who have lost a child.
They supply Memory Boxes to hospitals in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, which are given to families who lose a baby of any gestation and to families who lose a child up to the age of 16, regardless of the cause of death. They also supply miscarriage memory bags to early pregnancy units and emergency departments.
Donating a Memory Box or a Miscarriage Memory Bag in memory of a loved one makes an incredibly thoughtful sympathy gift that has double the impact.
Art and Expression
Suncatcher
Suncatchers make for thoughtful and uplifting sympathy gifts. Not only do they offer a colourful and calming display when hung in a window, but they can also serve as a lasting reminder of the person who has passed.
Sympathy Art Therapy Colouring Book
A sympathy art therapy colouring book is a thoughtful condolence gift that can help the recipient cope with their grief.
Art therapy has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, and colouring has a calming effect on the mind and body. The act of colouring can be a meditative and therapeutic process that allows the recipient to express their emotions and channel their energy into a creative outlet.
It’s a beautiful way to honour the memory of a loved one while providing comfort and support during a difficult time.
Framed Poem or Quote
Framed poems or quotes are heartfelt sympathy gifts, offering solace through carefully chosen words.
Its enduring presence serves as a source of comfort, reminding grieving loved ones of cherished memories and the enduring power of love.
This thoughtful gesture provides solace during difficult times, offering a timeless tribute they can treasure forever.
Artwork Sympathy Gifts
Giving artwork as a sympathy gift can be a meaningful way to express condolences while bringing comfort and serving as a lasting tribute to the loved one who has passed.
Consider selecting a piece that aligns with the recipient’s taste or that holds a special message or memory. Positive Prints can turn a loved one’s voice into a beautiful work of art to keep their memory alive. Simply upload an audio file and customise in three simple steps.
Bookmark
Memorial bookmarks are touching sympathy gifts, uniting the practical with the sentimental.
It serves as a constant reminder of a cherished memory or a loved one’s legacy. This thoughtful token accompanies grieving loved ones through their grief journey, offering comfort and solace each time they turn a page.
Keychain
Keychains bearing thoughtful words or symbols are poignant sympathy gifts, offering a daily companion that provides comfort.
Engraved with meaningful sentiments or symbols, it provides a portable source of solace, reminding grieving loved ones of enduring support and shared memories.
This small yet heartfelt gesture brings reassurance during challenging times.
Food and Comfort Sympathy Gifts
Comfort Food Basket
Comfort food baskets can be thoughtful and practical sympathy gifts.
They can provide nourishment and comfort during a time of grief when the recipient may not feel like cooking or going out to eat.
Consider including items that the recipient enjoys or that hold special meaning, such as a favourite snack or fresh fruit.
Gift Certificate for a Spa Day
Giving a gift certificate for a spa day when someone passes away can be a thoughtful way to offer comfort and support during a difficult time.
It allows the recipient to take a break and focus on self-care, which can be especially important during the grieving process.
It also offers a chance for the recipient to relax and recharge and can serve as a reminder that they are not alone and have support from loved ones.
Homemade Comfort Food
Homemade comfort food is a deeply personal and caring sympathy gift.
With each dish prepared from the heart, it delivers warmth and sustenance to those in mourning. It’s a tangible expression of support, offering the familiar, nurturing embrace of home-cooked meals during a time of grief.
If you can’t provide a home cooked meal, send the equivalent with Dinner Ladies.
Sympathy Bouquet
Sympathy bouquets are timeless and thoughtful sympathy gifts for those who are grieving.
Its delicate blooms convey condolences and comfort, bringing a touch of beauty to a sombre time.
This gesture offers solace and a reminder of the natural cycle of life, gently comforting the hearts of those in mourning.
Handwritten Letter
A handwritten letter, filled with heartfelt words of comfort and support, is a timeless and deeply meaningful sympathy gift.
The personal touch of a handwritten note conveys genuine care, offering solace to grieving loved ones during their difficult times.
It’s a simple yet profound way to express your condolences and love.
Grief Journal
A grief journal provides a therapeutic outlet for grieving loved ones to process their emotions and memories.
It’s a heartfelt sympathy gift that encourages healing through self-reflection.
This beautifully bound journal offers a safe space for expressing grief, fostering resilience and honouring the memory of the departed.
