IRC Blog Logo
Image Restoration Center Blog Logo

18 Meaningful Sympathy Gift Ideas For A Grieving Loved One

By Emily Hutton
  • Last Updated: Apr 29, 2023
We independently research, review, and recommend the best products. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

When someone significant to us experiences a loss, it is our natural instinct to do something to ease their pain. However, doing so isn’t always an easy task. Knowing what to say, what to give, and when to give someone space can be challenging.
Offering thoughtful sympathy gifts can be a great way to bring comfort to the bereaved during tough times. When it comes to gift ideas, you’ll want to give them something that offers sincere consolation, reduces their pain, or at least makes them smile.

But how do you come up with an appropriate sympathy gift that actually shows your support and compassion? In this article, we have curated a list of creative sympathy gift ideas for every situation.

Best Sympathy Gift Ideas For Anyone

Sympathy gifts don’t have to be extravagant – an authentic and personalized present can be just as much (if not more) thoughtful. The gesture may seem cliché, but it speaks volumes about your earnest intention to console a mourning friend or family member.
Here are some thoughtful sympathy gift ideas that work for anyone:

Before After Photo Restoration Gift For Grandparents

1. Photo Restoration

At Image Restoration Center, we can fully restore your grandparents’ favorite photo. We’ll comb through pixel-by-pixel, to achieve a perfect restoration.

Get Started

Name a more iconic duo than grandparents and old photos! 

Everyone, and especially grandparents, have that special photo they keep holding onto, whether it’s one with the whole reunited family or one with their favorite grandchild. 

However, like any other photo, it’s only getting more and more damaged as years go by. The colors might be fading – or worse the photo might have accrued scratches, sun spots, or other significant damage. That’s why a photo restoration could make the perfect gift for your grandparents.

At Image Restoration Center, we can fully restore your grandparents’ favorite photo. We’ll comb through pixel-by-pixel, to achieve a perfect restoration.

KindNotes Glass Keepsake Gift Jar

2. KindNotes Glass Keepsake Gift Jar

You can never go wrong with this lovely gift, especially if you’re looking into DIY sympathy gift ideas. The Kindnotes Keepsake jar is a great way to show someone that you’re thinking of them through these hard times.

Check Price On Amazon

Beautifully made and designed, this jar allows you to add 31 comforting notes, all tucked into aesthetically-designed mini envelopes. The messages mimic handwritten lettering, giving your gift a personalized touch.

While the healing process is a potentially long road ahead, a grieving loved one can read your personalized notes anytime they need to lift their spirits. The notes contain general inspirational messages, making it one of the top sympathy gift ideas for a coworker, family member, or friend.

Mayamila Memorial Moon Lamp

3. Mayamila Sympathy Moon Lamp

Some say the people we lose become our guiding light from above. Similarly, in their darkest moments, this ethereal-looking memorial moon lamp can serve as the light and comfort for a mourning friend or loved one.

Check Price On Amazon
Ideal decor in any room, this personalized LED moon lamp can bring solace and elicit happy memories of faith and love in the home. Whether you’re looking for sympathy gift ideas for a miscarriage, the loss of the elderly, or the loss of a child, this gift will surely express your sincerest condolences.

Sympathy Gift Ideas For The Loss Of A Father

When we think about a father figure, we often think about his unwavering guidance, words of wisdom, and family adventures. With this in mind, personalized sympathy gifts that celebrate the memory of their father are the ideal choice for sympathy gifts.

Here are some of the best condolence sympathy gift ideas to give to someone who has recently lost a dad:

Silver Butterfly Necklace

4. Silver Butterfly Necklace

Carefully crafted using robust materials, this silver necklace symbolizes the eternal bond between a loving father and a daughter. The butterfly charm signifies that whoever wears this necklace will forever carry the beautiful memories of fatherhood.

Check Price On Amazon

For a bereaved friend or a loved one who has lost an important figure in their life, this sympathy gift is a thoughtful present that honors a loving spirit.

Carson Memorial Flameless Lantern with Timer

5. Flameless Lantern With Automatic Timer

Apart from the ambient aesthetics, lanterns are purposeful and symbolic – they can remind a grieving person of the warm memories of a lost loved one. If you have a friend who has just lost a father, this lantern can be a great way to show that you care during such a difficult time.
Check Price On Amazon

This automatic flameless lantern is made from composite wood and stainless steel, which epitomizes the characteristics of a strong father figure with a heart that loves and protects. It also comes with customizable inlay pictures, editable inspirational quotes, and a built-in light timer.

Lavender Soothe & Sleep Foaming Bath

6. Lavender Soothe & Sleep Foaming Bath

It can be hard to take care of yourself after losing a father. While navigating the grieving cycle, your bereaved loved one could use a little pampering to revitalize their senses and get a better night’s sleep.
Check Price On Amazon

One of the best sympathy gift ideas for men, who are more likely to let their personal hygiene slide during tough times, this lavender foaming bath is a thoughtful present that reminds a grieving friend to always care for themselves despite the harrowing circumstances.

Sympathy Gift Ideas For The Loss Of A Mother

Losing a mother can break your heart into a thousand pieces – you’re losing the person who gave you life, cheered you on every step of the way, and embraced and consoled you on your darkest days. If you have a friend who is experiencing this, they may find it especially hard to bounce back.

However, even after losing a mother figure, you can still rekindle fond memories of bedtime stories, cozy family gatherings, and delectable homemade meals shared while growing up. For a loved one who lost their mother, personalized sympathy gifts that remind them of precious maternal moments can help them cope with the loss.
Here are some wholesome condolence gift ideas for someone who has recently lost a mom or mother figure:

Sympathy Gift Basket

7. Sympathy Gift Basket

Sympathy gift baskets are exceptional condolence gift ideas for grieving friends, family members, or any loved ones. In times of loss, you can extend your sincerest solace through a personalized gift basket full.

Check Price On Amazon

This sympathy gift basket is packed with comfort treats and snacks. This could temporarily relieve their sorrow and remind them that nourishing their body is still essential, even in times of heavy grief.

Compassion Blanket

8. Compassion Blanket

Nothing in this world can replace a mother’s hug, but a compassion blanket can help a grieving loved one still feel the comforting warmth of an embrace.

Check Price On Amazon

Made of elegant fleece and soft sherpa, this cuddle-friendly blanket is ideal for snuggling and napping. Not only is it lightweight and cozy, but it’s also woven with motivational words to help the mind steer clear from despair – even if for a short while.

Self-Care Relaxation Sympathy Gift Box

9. Self-Care Relaxation Sympathy Gift Box

Self-care items are often underrated gift ideas for sympathy, but they can work wonders in temporarily alleviating sorrow in times of loss.

Check Price On Amazon

Full of useful self-care items, this customizable sympathy gift box is like a warm hug. You can freely add your loved one’s favorites like candles, relaxing soaps, or other comfort food items to show your love and support.

Sympathy Gift Ideas For The Loss Of A Husband

What can possibly console or compensate someone who has lost their husband? While there’s nothing that can replace a lost love, heartwarming condolence gifts can bring solace to the bereaved and celebrate the legacy of the man who played a significant role in their life.

Consider the following unique sympathy gift ideas tailored for the loss of a husband:

YOUNTASY Sympathy Wind Chime

10. Memorial Wind Chime

“When tomorrow starts without me, don’t think we are far apart. For every time you think of me, I’m right here in your heart.” This is the sentiment inscribed on the wooden heart of this elegant wind chime.

Check Price On Amazon
This inscription not only memorializes the promise of the bereaved’s significant other but also offers hope, comfort, and healing. The soothing inharmonic melody it creates also sets a meditative atmosphere that reduces tension, calms the mind, and uplifts the spirit. Pristinely packaged in a sophisticated black box for easy gifting, the chimes are 32 inches long.
Wood Life Prints Personalized Star Map

11. Wood Life Prints Personalized Star Map

A unique keepsake commemorating a significant life event of the faithfully departed can be a special present for a friend grieving a loss. With its celestial aesthetics, this stunning star map displays the exact constellation alignments, the specific date, and the location of any event that holds important memories, such as birthdays and anniversaries.

Check Price On Amazon

If you want to be attentive and creative with your sympathy present, this incredible memento is the perfect way to honor a special life moment and remember the impact of the people they’ve lost.

In Memory Chest

12. In Memory Chest

Holding trinkets, photo galleries, and other treasured mementos, a compact memory chest is a valuable sympathy gift for someone grieving the loss of their late husband.

Check Price On Amazon

This chest can also be personalized by engraving a name and a proverb. A moving gift idea, this practical present will be surely appreciated by whoever receives it.

Sympathy Gift Ideas For The Loss Of A Wife

When someone has just lost their better half, personalized sympathy gifts for the loss of a wife can alleviate some of the heartbreak. A sympathy card might not be enough to convey your heartfelt sympathies – instead, give something special to reassure the bereaved that you’re there for them during this tough time.

Below are a few grieving sympathy gift ideas for someone grieving the loss of their beloved wife.

Tealight Candle Holder

13. Tealight Candle Holder

Bringing comfort in a time of despair, this divine tealight holder is ideal for those who want to pay respect to their faithfully departed.

Check Price On Amazon

The angel figurine signifies that the spirit of those who pass away will remain with us forever – unseen and unheard but still loved.

Weighing just 1.5 pounds, this remembrance gift is made of high-quality polished resin and comes with a flameless tea light candle.

Aromatherapy Diffuser

14. Aromatherapy Diffuser

It is both mentally and physically exhausting to run errands and take care of the memorial service while grieving. If the bereaved doesn’t find time to take care of themselves, it can take a severe toll on their overall well-being.
Check Price On Amazon

Help your grieving loved one wind down with this therapeutic oil diffuser. It will give off a continual cool mist that relieves stress and improves sleep, which any grieving friend would surely appreciate.

Memorial Keychain

15. Memorial Keychain

There’s something really intimate and sentimental about a personalized keychain, especially when done right. And this Fanery Sue silver wing keychain is definitely done right.

Check Price On Amazon

This custom keychain can be engraved with the handwritten signature of the late wife of the bereaved. Fulfilling the promise of everlasting intimacy, the bereaved can carry this keepsake anytime and anywhere – reminding them of the warm touch and presence of their better half.

Sympathy Gift Ideas For The Loss Of A Pet

Many people who lose a pet go through the same weight of grief as if they had lost a family member or close friend. If you have never given a gift for the loss of a pet before, choosing the proper sympathy present can be daunting. Check out our suggestions below before you shop for a gift!
Garden Pet Paw Prints Stepping Stone

16. Garden Pet Paw Prints Stepping Stone

This garden stepping stone is a sentimental gift for those who have lost their furry friend.

Check Price On Amazon
Accented with a paw print design, this precious devotion stone is treated with a durable finish for protection in any weather. A mourning friend or family member can put this piece in a garden or playground where their pet used to play.
Pearhead Pet Collar Keepsake Frame

17. Pearhead Pet Collar Keepsake Frame

Photo frames will never go out of style – it’s a timeless gift choice. This keepsake frame isn’t your typical photo frame, either – it has a dedicated space for the pet’s collar or other significant trinkets, alongside space for a memorial tribute picture.

Check Price On Amazon

This collar keepsake frame includes a hanger for wall mounting and an easel for display on shelves, tabletops, cabinets, or desks.

Pets Tower Crystal 3D Engraved

18. Pets Tower Crystal 3D Engraved

Pets deserve to be honored for the love and companionship they once brought us. And this unique gift is nothing short of an excellent present for the loss of a pet.
Check Price On Amazon

Gift your grieving loved one a dazzling 3D glass crystal engraving of the still image and name of their late pet. An ideal home decoration, this keepsake immortalizes the image of any beloved animal companion. It serves as a reminder of great memories that will be cherished forever.

Conclusion

A present for the bereaved is probably the most difficult gift to give. During such a sensitive time, choosing the right gift that can actually offer some solace is tricky.

The bottom line is, whether you choose a gift that helps a friend through the grieving process or one that celebrates the memory of a loved one, always remember that sympathy gifts should be symbolic of your love and unwavering support.

Related Posts

Restore Your Old Photos For Just $34.95

With The World's Highest Rated Photo Restoration Service

As the world’s #1 photo restoration studio, we’ve restored over 100,000 photos for customers all around the world. Whether your photo is ripped, faded or water damaged, you can trust us to restore it to its original glory.

Start Your Photo Restoration
photo restoration before and after