It can be difficult to know what to say to someone who is experiencing a loss, let alone be sure of what to purchase for them to express your sympathy. However, a thoughtful gift will show you care as well as serve as a memorial to the person or pet that has passed. From beautiful flowers to gift baskets to unique comfort gifts, this guide offers a range of options that are both touching and meaningful.
Sympathy gifts for the loss of a mother
Plants and flowers
Costa Farms Peace Lily Indoor Plant
This striking lily is an excellent sympathy gift because lilies are thought to represent peace and purity for the soul of the departed. It comes in a decorative pot and can grow well even in indirect sunlight.
Sold by Amazon
Costa Farms Live Anthurium Indoor Plant
With its heart-shaped leaves and heart-shaped red blooms, this flowering houseplant is a thoughtful way to express sympathy. It also comes in a ceramic planter decorated with hearts to remind your friend of their mother’s loving memory. Sold by Amazon
Comfort gifts
Gravity Blanket Weighted Blanket
This weighted blanket can comfort someone who’s lost a mother because it mimics the feeling of being hugged. It’s made of 100% cotton and contains glass beads, while the duvet cover’s microfleece material is super soft against the skin.
Sold by Amazon
The Invisible String Picture Book
For young children who’ve lost their mother, this thoughtful book explains the unbreakable bonds that exist even after a loved one passes. It contains vibrant illustrations that help bring the message to life and is recommended by many bereavement support groups.
Sold by Amazon
Golden State Fruit Sympathy Basket
Featuring a mix of apples, pears, and oranges, this gift basket also includes savory treats, such as cheese and roasted almonds. It comes in a keepsake woven basket and is adorned with a green and gold “With Sympathy” ribbon. Sold by Amazon
Memorial jewelry
Kathy Bransfield “I’ll Be There” Necklace
This lovely 22-karat gold-plated brass necklace is the ideal way to remember a mother who’s passed. It depicts two trees standing side by side to remind the wearer that their lost loved one is always with them.
Sold by Uncommon Goods
Olga’s Gems Natural Amethyst Remembrance Bracelet
This beaded amethyst bracelet makes an excellent sympathy gift after the death of a mother because amethyst is believed to promote healing. The bracelet also features a small heart charm to symbolize a love that won’t fade.
Sold by Amazon
Joycuff Cuff Remembrance Bangle
This stainless steel remembrance bracelet has a lovely inscription that helps the wearer carry memories of their mother with them. It’s comfortable and lightweight, so it’s perfect for everyday wear. It’s also hypoallergenic and safe for sensitive skin.
Sold by Amazon
Memorial items
Evergreen Memorial Steppingstone
Help your loved one remember their mother with this touching memorial garden stone. It’s engraved with an inspirational message and treated with a special finish to help protect it from the elements. It can be placed flat on the ground or propped against a tree or wall.
Sold by Amazon
Pavilion Gift Company Sympathy Angel Figurine
Made of hand-painted polyresin that resembles wood, this angel figurine can bring comfort to those who’ve lost their mother. It is 9 inches tall and comes in a gift box, so it’s ready to give to a grieving friend.
Sold by Amazon
Every time your loved one hears the wind pass through these wind chimes, they’ll be comforted by their mother’s memory. The chimes are an ideal addition to a memorial garden, but they can also be hung near a window indoors.
Sold by Amazon
Other top deals in this space
- This bestselling book by Joan Didion to help your loved one remember that they’re not alone in their grief
- A memorial moon lamp to honor a deceased mother’s life with its soft light
- A lavender-scented memorial candle to not only celebrate a mother’s memory but also help soothe those who are grieving
- This custom memorial poster to express love and sympathy for a friend who’s lost their mother
Sympathy gifts for the loss of a father
Plants and flowers
Help the memory of a loved one’s father last for years with this sustainably grown evergreen sapling. It comes ready for planting, and each tree is chosen based on the ZIP code where it will be planted to ensure it will thrive.
Sold by Uncommon Goods
Shop Succulents Assortment of Live Indoor Succulents
Succulents are thought to represent strength and love, so this assortment of mini succulents is an ideal sympathy gift. The set includes 12 plants, which are easy to care for even if they don’t have a green thumb.
Sold by Amazon
Comfort gifts
Things I’ve Learned About Loss Book
If a friend is struggling after the death of their father, this book relies on the stages of grief as a guide to help deal with loss. The author draws upon their own experiences to provide examples to help the grieving feel less alone.
Sold by Uncommon Goods
Wine Country Sympathy Gift Basket
With a mix of savory and sweet items, this gift basket offers plenty of comfort food options to let a friend know you’re thinking of them. Some of the contents include chocolate brownies, vanilla caramels, fruit jelly candies, smoked Gouda spread and olives.
Sold by Amazon
Gift Baskets Associates Sympathy Basket
This gift basket includes a large, cozy throw blanket with a sympathy note. The glossy gift box also contains fuzzy socks, chamomile tea, ready-to-eat chicken noodle soup, crackers, and a hand-poured candle to ensure your friend or relative feels loved as they grieve.
Sold by Amazon
Memorial jewelry and accessories
RareLove Sterling Silver Angel Wing Heart Pendant
This angel wing necklace is designed to celebrate the memory of a loving father. It’s made of durable, hypoallergenic sterling silver and features a chain that can be adjusted from 17 to 21 inches.
Sold by Amazon
Vanlovemac Dad Memorial Keychain
Inscribed with the simple message “I used to be his angel, now he’s mine,” this keychain helps your loved one celebrate their bond with their father. It also includes a heart-shaped charm engraved with “Dad” and another charm in the shape of angel wings.
Sold by Amazon
Memorial items
Pavilion Gift Company In Memory of Loved One Ceramic Candle
This soy candle comes in a ceramic holder that’s imprinted with butterflies and features a heartfelt sympathy message. It also features a calming scent to help soothe a loved one grieving the loss of their father.
Sold by Amazon
Carson Home Accents Walk Beside Us Memorial Remembrance Lantern
This thoughtful memorial lantern is made of a durable, waterproof combination of composite wood and stainless steel, so it’s an ideal addition to a memorial garden. It’s battery-operated and features a built-in automatic timer.
Sold by Amazon
Dulaya Memories In Art Angel Statue
This durable, heartfelt keepsake angel statue can help keep the memory of their father alive for years. It’s made of polyresin that resembles granite or sandstone and has a simple, understated look that works with any décor.
Sold by Amazon
Other top deals in this space
- A memorial picture hanging board to provide a place to gather photos of their father
- This glass keepsake jar full of pre-printed sympathy messages to let your loved one know you’re thinking of them
- A lovely memorial picture frame to hold a cherished photo of their father
Gifts to keep your loved one close
Memorial gifts for displaying photos
TJ.Moree Picture Frame Shadow Memory Box
Photos and small mementos can be displayed in this beautiful memory box that features a glass front to showcase treasured memories. It’s crafted of wood and has a drawer for stashing other small keepsakes.
Sold by Amazon
Personalized Photo Pet Memorial Mug
A bereaved pet owner can have a daily reminder of their beloved pet with this mug that’s designed to be personalized with a photo, the pet’s name, and the date of the loss of their best four-legged friend. The front is inscribed with a heartfelt phrase and paw print.
Sold by Etsy
Pix-Star Easy Digital Photo Frame
Displaying numerous special photos is possible with a digital photo frame. This top-selling model is easy to set up and use and has built-in WiFi for easily sharing photos from a phone. It has gorgeous image quality that is worthy of showcasing priceless memories. With 8GB of built-in storage, it can hold as many as 30,000 photos in total.
Sold by Amazon
Customizable with the photo of a loved one, this throw blanket is a comforting and lasting memorial of a lost loved one. It’s made in the United States of soft fleece material.
Sold by Amazon
Memories Bloom Forever Shadow Box and Candle
This gift set includes a shadow box for displaying a beloved photo plus a floral-scented candle. Both items have a floral theme, including real dried flowers on the candle lid.
Sold by 1-800Flowers.com
Heart-themed memorial gifts
Inside Our Hearts Memorial Wind Chimes
Each time a breeze blows across these memorial wind chimes, it will spark fond memories of a lost loved one. They feature chime tubes and a top plaque that are inscribed with touching “In Our Hearts” sentiments.
Sold by 1-800Flowers.com
Precious Moments Heart-Shaped Pet Memorial Garden Stone
This sweet heart-shaped memorial is adorned with paw prints and the phrase “Always in Our Hearts” for a special tribute to a beloved pet. It's made of durable resin and features a little cardinal on the heart.
Sold by Kohl’s
This set provides a unique way to honor the memory of a loved one. It includes a handmade clay heart with paper and pencil for writing a special message and casting it in the water at a special location. It also comes with an additional heart that serves as a keepsake.
Sold by Uncommon Goods
Becta Design Carved Stone Reminders
This thoughtful collection includes a glass keepsake heart with a remembrance inscription and four hearts that are carved from stone. Each one represents a season and is made to be put on display or carried to invoke special memories.
Sold by Amazon
Precious Moments Life Is Short But Love Is Forever Memorial Ornament
The heart in the middle of this pretty porcelain ornament can be personalized to honor a loved one who has passed. The phrase “Life is short but love is forever” is engraved on the circular exterior as a lasting token of remembrance.
Sold by Kohl’s
Unique sympathy gifts
Lillian Rose Crackle Glass Memorial Vase
By placing flowers in this attractive vase, a grieving person can honor their loved one and remember special times. It’s made of glass with a beautiful crackled appearance and is inscribed with a touching memorial poem.
Sold by Macy’s
Dulaya Memories in Art Solar Light Angel Statue
Perfect for putting in a garden or placing with funeral flowers, this beautiful angel statue has a built-in solar light that illuminates with a heart and cross when charged. It’s crafted of durable resin and comes with a poem card.
Sold by Amazon
Cottage Garden In Memory Music Box
Wind it up and this music box plays “Wind Beneath My Wings,” a song that pays tribute to the person who has died. It’s crafted of walnut wood and has a touching poem on the top to honor the special loved one. It also has space inside to store a few small mementos.
Sold by Amazon
PersonalizationMall Memorial Photo Cube
A photo cube is a nice remembrance gift, as it holds several photos and has a design that’s appealing to display. This cube also features a touching poem and can be personalized with a name and date. It’s available in a choice of black or white.
Sold by Etsy
This book by Dan Zadra contains meaningful quotes to help someone deal with loss. It’s thoughtfully designed by artist Lianne Onart and comes in a hardcover edition. It makes a nice gift by itself or to accompany another token to show someone who is grieving that you care.
Sold by Amazon
Other top deals in this space
- A memorial poster that can be personalized with a photo and will be a lasting tribute to a loved one or favorite pet
- This remembrance keychain has a miniature frame for a small photo of the special person who has passed
- A photo frame with a poem that celebrates a loved one’s life
- A memorial wall decal that can be placed in any room of the house to honor and remember a special person who is gone
- This customizable etched glass plaque to help the bereaved memorialize a loved one in a special way
Pet memorial gifts
Pet memorial statues
Design Toscano Dog Angel Pet Memorial Tribute Statue
Suitable for use as a grave marker or a memorial figurine in the home, this sentimental statue is a thoughtful gift for someone who has just lost a dog. It's made from weather-resistant polyresin with a stone finish.
Sold by Amazon
Design Toscano Cat Angel Pet Memorial Tribute Statue
A fitting tribute to a cat who has passed away, this statue is available in several versions. The attractive stone-effect finish looks realistic, although it's made from a durable resin material.
Sold by Amazon
Willow Tree Angel of Friendship Sculpted Hand-Painted Figure
This dog memorial figure is cast from an original sculpture by artist Susan Lordi from Kansas City, Missouri. It features an angelic figure cradling a dog and may be of comfort to someone whose canine companion has recently died.
Sold by Amazon
Perfect for a bereaved cat lover, this feline figurine has delicate wings and the word "loved" engraved on the body. It measures around 4 inches high, so it's large enough to make an impact without being overwhelmingly big.
Sold by Amazon
Pet urns
With a screw lid, this is a secure final resting place for a pet's ashes. It comes in three sizes: small for pets up to 25 pounds, medium for pets up to 40 pounds, and large for pets up to 70 pounds.
Sold by Amazon
Embove Wooden Keepsake Memorial Urn
This wooden urn is available with a choice of two sentimental sayings engraved into it. There's space for a photo of a departed pet and you can fix it shut with a screw for added security.
Sold by Amazon
Pearhead Pet Ceramic Memorial Urn
Suitable for the ashes of animals up to 45 pounds, this urn for pets has a tightly-fitting lid to keep the contents safe. It comes in gold and gray versions, each with a paw print and comforting words on it.
Sold by Amazon
Pearhead Pet DIY Paw prints Memorial Box Kit
With this memorial box urn comes a kit for taking a paw print of a departed pet, if it's an option. There's room for a photo and this clay paw print, but it can also hold an extra photo instead.
Sold by Amazon
Pet cremation jewelry
Inside this paw print necklace is a small screw box that holds ashes. This necklace comes in a choice of 12 finishes, including silver, black, and rainbow.
Sold by Amazon
Beilin Sterling Silver Circle of Life Memorial Urn Necklace
Made from sterling silver, this is a high-quality piece of cremation jewelry that can hold a small amount of a pet's ashes. It has a subtle design that's great for people who prefer understated jewelry.
Sold by Amazon
Minicremation Cremation Jewelry Urn Necklace
Ideal for fans of chunky jewelry, this dog tag-style necklace features a paw print and comes in various hues, including black, gold, and silver. It comes with everything needed to transfer and secure the ashes.
Sold by Amazon
Acjna Sterling Silver Heart Ring
This heart-shaped sterling silver ring comes in three designs, one with a paw print in the heart, another with angel wings, and the last with a simple star. A funnel and mini screwdriver are included to safely transfer ashes.
Sold by Amazon
Pet memorial jewelry
With the words, "You were my favorite hello and my hardest goodbye," printed on the interior and paw prints on the exterior, this bracelet is a subtle choice. There's also a personalization option with more than 300 pet names to choose from.
Sold by Amazon
Mignon and Mignon Custom Pet Necklace
You can have this necklace fully customized with a picture and name of a departed pet, with gold, rose gold, and silver options available. Although each one is made to order, they arrive surprisingly quickly.
Sold by Amazon
Mizze Paw Print Stainless Steel Cord Bracelet
Featuring a small stainless steel paw print charm on a slim black cord, this bracelet is perfect for people who like simple, casual jewelry. It's adjustable to fit most wrists.
Sold by Amazon
Unijew Rainbow Bridge Bracelet
People who have recently lost a pet may find comfort in this rainbow bridge bracelet, featuring subtly rainbow-colored beads and paw print and heart charms. It also comes with a rainbow enamel pin.
Sold by Amazon
Pet memorial photo frames
Banberry Designs Pet Memorial Ceramic Picture Frame
This memorial frame is decorated with a paw print design and the words, "no longer by my side, forever in my heart." It has space for a standard 4-inch-by-6-inch photo, in landscape orientation.
Sold by Amazon
Pawprints Left by You Pet Memorial Frame
The dual-sided design features a memorial poem on one side and space for a 5-inch-by-7-inch photo on the other. It also comes with an attached tag that can be engraved or replaced with a pet's own tag.
Sold by Amazon
Pawceptive Dog Memorial Picture Frame
It might just be one frame, but it offers five display possibilities, including the option to display a collar or a handwritten message beside a photo. This lets the recipient decide how best to memorialize their pet.
Sold by Amazon
You can choose from six versions of this frame, including one that says "besties" and another that features a rainbow bridge poem. Whichever you opt for, there's space for either a 4-inch-by-6-inch or 3 1/2-inch-by-5-inch photo.
Sold by Amazon
Other top deals in this space
- A keepsake box with both dog and cat options to keep important mementos in
- This wooden rainbow bridge ornament to act as a reminder of good times with beloved pets
- Memorial wind chimes that help people remember their lost pet every time the wind blows through them
- A memorial blanket to bring warmth and comfort in a dark time
- This memorial lantern with an LED candle that people can light for their departed pet
Contributing authors: Lauren Corona, Jennifer Manfrin, and Jennifer Blair
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