Thinking of you... Sympathy and memorial gifts

Whether a death is sudden or expected, it is important to let people know that our thoughts are with them.

Sympathy gifts

Send sympathy gifts, such as flowers and hampers, as soon as possible after a bereavement. Floral arrangements can be sent to the family home, church, or funeral home where they can be displayed during the service. Living plant gifts are a lasting alternative to flowers, providing beauty and comfort for years instead of weeks. Food or fruit hampers are caring and practical.

Memorial gifts - after the funeral and anniversaries

Anniversaries and other special dates - birthdays, Mother's Day, Father's Day - bring up many memories. These later dates are a great time for memorial gifts compared to the immediate aftermath of a death when they can get lost in the upheaval.

• Memorial gifts and keepsakes - for anniversaries or anytime to honor someone's loss and let them know they're in our thoughts.
• Cremation jewelry - personal mementoes and ash storage.
• Living plant gifts are a lasting alternative to flowers, or as a memorial gift for after the funeral and later.
• Care hampers - for the recently bereaved, and on anniversaries for when we can't be there.

Other notes

• Including your name and address in the card that accompanies flowers and other gifts makes it an easier task for the person writing thank you or acknowledgement notes.
   
• Immediately after a death, the bereaved are often overwhelmed with flowers, cards, and visits from well-wishers. Yet a few weeks later, others have returned to their everyday lives, which can leave a grieving family feeling forgotten. In the weeks and months following a death, a phone call or card can make a big difference. It is important to let them know that they are still in your thoughts and that others remember and honor the person who has died.