Bereavement Gifts: Beyond the Bouquet
Bereavement gifts offer a thoughtful and diverse range of ways to express condolences and provide comfort during times of profound loss. While grief can leave individuals feeling isolated and overwhelmed, these thoughtful gestures serve as a bridge between hearts, through empathy and support. Beyond the traditional realm of flowers, bereavement gifts encompass a diverse array of meaningful offerings that hold the potential to inspire and honor the memory of their person. Each gift symbolizes a profound connection, a testament to the enduring impact of relationships, and a reminder that even in the depths of sorrow, the human spirit can find solace and strength through acts of compassion and remembrance.
Bereavement Gift Ideas:
Handheld Gifts
Care Packages: Eluna offers care packages, specifically designed to support children and teens impacted by grief, addiction, or a suicide death. These include a custom combination of therapeutic and comfort items appropriate for their age and circumstance, accompanied by an Eluna Resource Center report with recommended activities and resources. Gift a grief care package.
Grief Cards: Sympathy cards that don’t suck. They’re made explicitly for grieving people, by grieving people, without any assumed spirituality or toxic positivity. Explore their cards.
The Grief Deck: Sixty illustrated cards, created by a diverse array of artists and grief workers, offering thoughtful prompts, simple activities, richly textured artwork, and grounding resources for coping with loss. Gift a deck.
Memory Candles: Scented candles or memorial candles can be lit in remembrance, creating a calming ambiance and a space for reflection. Customize a candle.
Comforting Blankets or Bears: Soft and cozy blankets or quilts can offer physical comfort and a sense of warmth during difficult times. Gift a blanket or bear.
Memorial Keepsakes: Items such as personalized memorial jewelry, engraved photo frames, or custom-made memorial ornaments can offer a tangible and lasting tribute to the departed. Click here for Veteran Family keepsakes and support.
Grief Relief Lotion: Comfort is a cream by Resonant Botanicals to relieve you during times of loss and grief. Inspired by the mystical healing waters of the San Juan Islands of Washington state, Comfort brings healing frequencies to help soothe the grieving process. Click for Eluna’s discount code.
Personalized Surf Boards & Shirts: One Last Wave Project has created a set of personalized gifts that allow you to celebrate your loved ones fondness for the ocean. Check out their meaningful merch.
Legacy Gifts
A Living Tribute: Unlike cut flowers, potted plants or trees can serve as living tributes that continue to grow and thrive, symbolizing the enduring nature of life. Plant a grove of trees or gift a plant.
Legacy Journal: When navigating anticipatory grief, meaningful keepsake journals can become a special way to share life’s stories and memories. Gift our recommended journal, This Life of Mine.
Charitable Donations: Making a donation to a charity or cause that was meaningful to the deceased can honor their memory and create a positive impact in their name. Learn more about how Erin Metcalf’s Make-A-Wish inspired the start of Camp Erin!
Art & Literature Gifts
Guided Journals & Prompts: Grief journals and guided journals specifically designed for coping with loss can provide a therapeutic outlet for emotions and thoughts. We recommend:
- Sesame Street Journal Page for Kids
- Deconstruction / Reconstruction Journal for Teens
- Grief Journaling Prompts for Adults
- Activity: Story Writing
Artwork or Custom Portraits: Commissioning a piece of artwork or a custom portrait of the deceased can be a beautiful way to capture their essence and keep their memory alive.
Music or Playlist: Curating a playlist of songs that hold special meaning or were loved by the departed can evoke cherished memories and provide solace.
Handwritten Letters or Messages: Thoughtful and heartfelt letters or messages of condolence can offer profound comfort and demonstrate genuine care and support.
Supportive Books: Grief literature, poetry, or self-help books can provide insight, perspective, and guidance for navigating the complexities of loss. For a variety of grief book recommendations, please visit Eluna’s Bookstore. A percentage of your purchase will support The Eluna Resource Center. We also suggest:
- Grief Books for Children Ages 2 – 5
- Grief Books for Children Ages 5 – 7
- Grief Books for Children Ages 7 – 12
- Grief Books for Youth Ages 13 – 17
- Grief Books for Young Adults
- Grief Books for Parents & Caregivers
- Anticipatory Grief Books for Youth
Community & Ongoing Support Gifts
Help Texts: We’ve partnered with Help Texts so that teens and their adults can receive ongoing, expert grief support via text message all year long. Text messages are personalized based on age, relationship, cause of death and more. Click here for our special discount.
Cooking or Meal Services: Providing pre-cooked meals or meal delivery services can ease the burden of daily tasks during a time of mourning. Organize a Meal Train.
Camp Erin: Youth and families who are grieving may benefit from being connected to a community of support through Camp Erin – the largest national bereavement program for children and families. Camp Erin supports children, teens, young adults, and families through in-person and online programs, all at no cost.
Personalized Grief Support: The Eluna Resource Center uniquely offers personalized grief support in Spanish & English via phone and email with a turnaround time of 24 hours. Resources & referrals will be specific to the families location, the age of each child, their relationship to the individual, and the type of loss. Request personalized support.
These alternative bereavement gifts go beyond the fleeting nature of flowers and can offer lasting comfort, support, and remembrance for those who are grieving. They reflect the understanding that grief is a deeply personal journey, and offering meaningful gestures can provide solace and a sense of connection during a challenging time.
