When you hear that a friend of yours has lost a loved one, you might want to go to the funeral homes and attend the final services in order to support that friend. Even if you didn’t know their relative, you might want to attend in support of your friend. You can bring a gift, or you can send one if you aren’t able to make it. While gifts are always nice, they also aren’t expected.
Bringing a gift to the funeral home is always a nice gesture and it can remind your friend that you were there or that you are supporting them from afar. It’s a nice thing to do, but it’s also not required. If you are at the service, your presence can be enough and it’s always a nice way to show your support—with your time.
If you want to send or bring something to the funeral home, flowers are the most common thing to get. Flowers are a nice gesture that can help to decorate the service, show the family you are thinking of them, and share beauty and hope for the future. There are lots of different flowers out there and you are going to want to talk to the florist about their meanings so you are able to convey what you want through the gift.
Even if you attend the service, you can bring a card to show the family you care and are thinking of them. Leaving a card at the funeral home (and they will usually have a basket available to collect them) will remind the family later who was there supporting them on that hard day. They might feel as if they are in a fog and even if they speak to you at the service, having a card later to read will remind them of that support.
Whether you go to the service or not, you can also send the gift directly to the family, if you want. You can send flowers to your friend, for example, or you can send them food from their favorite restaurant. Care packages are always nice, too, and you can send them a bit after the funeral to spread the gifts and the support out.
If you want to ask professionals about what to bring to the funeral home, or you want ideas on what you should send, they are always there to help you with those ideas and options. You are welcome to call funeral homes at any time to get that kind of support. The professionals are there to help your friend care for their deceased loved one, but they also want to give you access to the ideas and support you need to stand behind the grieving in the best possible way. Don’t be shy about calling for advice when you need it.