Top 30 Heartfelt Sympathy Gifts for Comfort and Support

This delicate angel sculpture, featuring folded wings and clasped hands, serves as a touching tribute for someone coping with loss. The handcrafted design includes a heartfelt card inscribed with the words: “Memories…hold each one safely in your heart.”

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s celebrated memoir delves into her personal journey of mourning her father’s passing, written in beautifully poignant prose. This book offers profound insights and comfort to anyone navigating the complexities of loss.

These beautifully crafted wind chimes not only provide soothing sounds but also feature a touching poem about grief and remembrance engraved on them. Available in 11 colors and two sizes, they make a thoughtful addition to any indoor or outdoor space.

This charming succulent planter, shaped like a dog or cat, helps honor the memory of a cherished pet. It includes a photo frame, allowing your loved one to display a picture of their late furry companion.

Soup is a timeless comfort food, and this thoughtfully curated gift basket ensures your loved one enjoys a hearty broth for several meals. The package includes up to six servings of soup (or mac and cheese), rolls (or bread bowls), cookies, a commemorative ladle, and a sympathy card.

For a music-inspired memorial gift, this framed canvas resembling a record is a heartfelt choice. It can be customized with a name, date, song selection, and more, and is available in various sizes and materials.

A gourmet gift basket is a timeless way to convey sympathy. This deluxe set includes a carefully selected mix of fruits, cheeses, sausages, crackers, nuts, and sweets, accompanied by a heartfelt card.

This elegant bangle bracelet, available in silver or gold, features a heart-shaped charm combining Mother of Pearl and a crystal-embellished angel wing. It’s a delicate yet meaningful way to honor the enduring connection with a departed loved one.

The loss of a pet is deeply painful, and this memory flower garden kit offers a heartfelt way to commemorate their life. Ideal for plant enthusiasts, the kit includes seeds to grow wildflowers as a tribute, with the option to incorporate the pet’s ashes if desired.

This memorial photo teddy bear is a touching gift for a child in need of comfort. The plush bear can be customized with a photo and message, offering a warm and reassuring companion during difficult times.

A traditional floral bouquet is always a fitting sympathy gift, and this elegant all-white arrangement is a standout option. Available in four sizes, it features lush greenery and a glass cylinder vase, creating a serene and beautiful display.

A guided grief journal can be a valuable tool for someone navigating loss. Stephanie Greer’s journal offers thoughtful and uplifting prompts to help users process their emotions and honor the memory of their loved one.

Cooking can feel overwhelming during difficult times, making ready-to-eat meals a thoughtful gift. This collection includes generous servings of mac and cheese, beef pot pie, and Swedish meatballs, providing comfort and convenience.

When your loved one lights this candle, they’ll be reminded of the person they’ve lost, accompanied by the soothing aroma of lavender and rosemary. The candle can also be personalized with a handwritten note included in the box.

This gift allows your loved one to plant a tree in memory of someone they’ve lost. The package includes evergreen saplings suitable for outdoor planting (tree types vary by location) and a sympathy message card.

This care package is designed to offer comfort and support, featuring items like cozy socks, night eye gels, melatonin chocolates, an herbal tincture, tissues, and Megan Devine’s book It’s OK That You’re Not OK.

This delectable platter features an abundance of chocolate-dipped strawberries, complemented by grapes and two dove-shaped pineapple slices covered in white chocolate. It’s a delightful and considerate gift for anyone who loves sweets.

This stunning crystal suncatcher creates a beautiful display of rainbow light, symbolizing the complex emotions of love and grief in a lasting and meaningful way.

This stuffed animal and book set is designed to help young children process their emotions during times of loss. The soft and huggable Sprite character is featured in two board books about grief included in the set.

This jewel garden is a heartfelt sympathy gift, featuring three fresh and vibrant succulents in a “forever remembered” box. It offers a serene and meaningful way to express love and remembrance.

This acclaimed memoir resonates deeply with anyone who has faced grief, offering a profound exploration of love, loss, and life through the eyes of a young neurosurgeon confronting his own mortality.

This elegant bracelet allows the wearer to carry a photo of their departed loved one wherever they go. Featuring a photo stone encased in a halo of stones, it’s available in three beautiful colors.

This thoughtful care package focuses on self-care, including a cozy throw blanket, tea, cookies, honey, and the book Healing After Loss. You can also include a personalized note for an extra touch.

This elegant white ceramic candle, with its floral fragrance, offers a heartfelt sympathy gift. It features one of 10 comforting messages about grief and loss, along with delicate butterfly and flower etchings for added sentiment.

This heartfelt gift includes a glass jar filled with 31 uplifting notes designed to offer strength and solace during difficult times. Each quote, from figures like Dr. Seuss to Helen Keller, is printed on high-quality cardstock.

This memorial plaque allows your loved one to honor their pet’s memory. Engraved with the message “I crossed the rainbow bridge knowing I was loved,” it features a paw print within a rainbow and space for the pet’s name, perfect for display on a shelf or desk.

This timeless fruit arrangement, featuring chocolate-dipped strawberries, is a versatile sympathy gift suitable for any occasion. Available in three sizes, it can be personalized with a heartfelt card.

Packed with hand creams, plush socks, and soft blankets, this self-care gift box is a thoughtful sympathy gift. It offers comfort and reassurance, reminding your loved one they are cared for during difficult times.

This memorial seed packet allows your loved one to plant a vibrant butterfly garden in memory of someone special. Customizable with the departed’s name, it includes wildflowers, garden flowers, and milkweeds to attract butterflies.

This memorial bird feeder, engraved with a poignant quote about grief and the tree of life, is a touching nature-inspired gift. It can be personalized with the departed’s name and years of life, offering a meaningful way to remember them while nurturing wildlife.

Questions You Might Ask 

What are appropriate gifts for someone who’s grieving?

“A suitable gift is one that’s simple and understated,” Ho explains. She emphasizes avoiding extravagant or overly vibrant presents, as elaborate wrapping with ribbons and bright colors conveys celebration rather than sympathy.

Richey agrees, suggesting thoughtful gifts like flowers, potted plants, framed photos, meaningful books, food for the family, donations to a favorite charity, or comforting items such as blankets. She advises considering the recipient’s dietary preferences and cultural practices when selecting food items.

Richey also highlights the importance of a handwritten note or a phone call as a personal and considerate gesture.

When should you send a sympathy gift?

Both experts recommend sending a sympathy gift as soon as possible after the loss, ideally before the funeral if one is planned. For flowers, Richey notes, “They can be timed to arrive for the funeral or visitation.”

If you miss the initial window, it’s still appropriate to send a gift. “You can send gifts and express your condolences up to two weeks after the funeral,” Richey advises. Ho extends this timeframe, stating, “Even 30 days later is acceptable. Grief remains fresh for a long time.”

Should you bring a sympathy gift to a funeral?

In short, no. “Funerals are already overwhelming with logistics and social obligations,” Ho explains. Instead, she suggests, “Deliver the gift to their home or have it sent there.”

Take Our Word for It

This article was authored by Rachel Simon, a contributor to Mytour, Better Homes & Gardens, The New York Times, and other outlets. She specializes in gift guides and evaluated numerous products based on type, price, and purpose for this piece. She also consulted Sara Jane Ho, an etiquette expert and Emmy-nominated host of Mind Your Manners, and Lisa Richey, founder of Manners to Go, for their expertise.