Gifts for Someone Who Is Grieving

The pain of loss isn’t easily dealt with, but many of us find that having the support of our nearest and dearest friends can be a great comfort. There are many ways to show support — for example, by helping with practical tasks or simply being a shoulder to cry on. Some people might prefer to offer their support in the form of carefully selected gifts for someone who is grieving.

How to Comfort Someone Who is Grieving

Grief is an inherently personal emotion, and none of us will ever experience it in quite the same way. Some will want to keep busy, dealing with the practicalities. Others may feel that they’re unable to do this and need time to process the loss.

Everyone deals with grief differently and while some may deal with it by focusing on the immediate practicalities, some may find talking and sharing memories helpful, while others may want to focus on anything else. They’re all legitimate ways of mourning.

Grief is deeply overwhelming. That's why often, the greatest help is simply knowing what steps to take, rather than expecting the bereaved person to tell you what they need. When someone is coping with the loss of their mother, understanding their situation positions you perfectly to act as a helpful guide. There are many constructive ways to offer support, and some may truly surprise you.

Lots of people find it easier to put their emotions into an object than to express them directly. These come in all kinds of shapes and forms. Some people merge photos to include a deceased loved one in a moment they couldn’t be part of, offering comfort as a meaningful gift for a bereaved friend. Others may go for options like sympathy gift baskets.

What to Buy for Someone Who is Grieving 

If you do decide that a physical gift is the appropriate way to offer comfort, there are a wide range of gifts for those who are mourning. Some people might feel that sympathy cards are the best gift for someone in mourning. Others might want to give something more personalized, such as a custom memorial gift like a piece of artwork.

Knowing the bereaved person is likely overwhelmed by funeral arrangements, a thoughtful artwork as a gift provides immense practical and emotional value. It serves not only as a display piece for the service but also as a long-lasting keepsake. For guidance and inspiration on suitable gifts for a funeral or memorial service, explore our article on creative funeral photo ideas.

If the loss involves a service member, there are meaningful ways to honor the fallen and their sacrifice on Memorial Day, offering deep comfort to their family.

We all mourn differently, so the best way to comfort someone will change from person to person. These are only suggestions, but they might offer some inspiration when searching for gifts for the bereaved.

Memorial Artwork

Memorial artworks often make the perfect gifts for those who are grieving. These pictures can be used to create the centerpiece of a memorial corner, or simply hung in the home to remind people of the departed. Many people also find displaying them at the funeral itself to help focus their grief.

There’s a lot of room for expression with these artworks, making them ideal bereavement gifts. 

1. If you're looking for something meaningful that doesn’t break the bank but still communicates the message well, you could consider commissioning an artwork where you add a loved one to a family photo. A touching way to show that although they are gone, they are still present. It serves as a powerful reminder of the love that they felt for their family and can offer great comfort in the immediate time after the loss. As time passes, these family portraits help to keep the departed in mind.

2. If you'd prefer something more individual, you could commission a memorial painting of the deceased depicted in the clouds, with wings and a halo above their head. Of course, there are plenty of customization options available, such as adding doves, sunrays, flowers, and much more. These portraits keep the focus on the departed themselves and are particularly well-suited to being displayed at a funeral or memorial service.
   

Both can be customized with text, allowing you to craft a fitting tribute to the deceased.

What matters here is doing what you feel is most appropriate. 

A carefully created memorial artwork is often the ideal gift for a bereaved friend, offering them both a reminder of their lost loved one and reassurance that you are thinking of them in their difficult time.

A Book on Grief and Healing

Death is, unfortunately, a part of life that we’ll all be exposed to at some point. Unsurprisingly, there are whole libraries of books dedicated to the grieving process, and some of these might offer great comfort as a present for a grieving friend. 

A book could cover the psychological process of grieving and healing from loss, or they could be more philosophical. The right choice depends on the beliefs, feelings, and preferences of the bereaved person, though something that helped you through the process is generally an appropriate gift for grieving people.

A Plantable Remembrance Tree

Planting a tree in remembrance of the departed is a fantastic symbolic gift. As the plant grows, those left behind have a beautiful, living memorial to their lost loved one. 

Some people like to plant a small tree with a memento like the departed’s wedding ring around the trunk. As the tree grows, the ring is slowly absorbed. For some, this is a way of symbolising the healing process. As time passes, the pain, like the ring, fades from view but the memories are always carried inside. 

Plantable trees and similar living tributes are often part of Memorial Day celebrations, serving as meaningful ways to remember and honor those who have passed. These simple yet heartfelt gestures remind us that remembrance can take many forms, and even a quiet visit to the cemetery or leaving flowers can offer the same deep sense of connection and respect.

A Pet Companion

Lots of people find that keeping busy helps them to deal with their grief but find it hard to stay focused through the loneliness of a recent loss. For some of them, an animal companion could be a source of great comfort, giving them something to focus their love on again. For some people, this renewed sense of purpose might be exactly what they need to get through their darkest days.

This is a fairly heavy gift, so it really does require careful thought first. 

While the companionship of a pet can be invaluable during the mourning process, it’s not always a great idea. If the person is feeling overwhelmed, has allergies or simply doesn’t have time, getting a new pet might not suit them at the moment.

A Hand Cast

The phrase ‘life goes on’ may seem harsh on the surface, but many grieving people take genuine comfort in remembering that people live on through the memories of those left behind and the examples they set. 

A hand cast, say of their partner holding the hand of their child, could be a powerful symbol for someone in mourning, especially for a parent. It represents those who are still with us but when held, the mourner is reminded of those who held their hand. This could help them feel that the ‘torch has been passed’ to them and inspire them to love those left behind every bit as strongly as those who have departed did.

Conclusion

There are many heartfelt options when it comes to finding gifts for someone who is grieving and the ‘right’ choice will depend on their tastes and your relationship with them. For most, a portrait is ideal; for others, a symbolic gift like a tree offers the best comfort. Some may prefer the practical help that comes from reading expert advice on dealing with grief.

A memorial portrait sits somewhere in the middle, making it one of the ideal gifts for grieving. The portrait can be displayed in the home, form the focus of a dedicated memorial or simply be displayed at the funeral, as the person in mourning sees fit. They serve as a reminder of both the departed and that the gift-giver loves and supports them.