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47 Sympathy Gift Ideas for Anyone Who Is Grieving the Loss of a Loved One

Send your condolences along with one of these thoughtful gifts to show your support.

By Lauren Wellbank and Ysolt Usigan
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Losing a family member, friend, or beloved pet can be a devastating time in a person’s life. Watching someone you care about go through that type of loss can be difficult to witness. Not only can you sometimes feel helpless when it comes to aiding the bereaved in navigating their pain, but it can be hard to find a meaningful way to show your loved one just how much you care about what they’re going through. That’s why many so many people turn to sympathy gifts when it comes time to help someone who’s experienced a loss.

Condolence gifts come in all forms and offer many different types of comfort. Sometimes people are looking to show it physically, like by gifting a plush blanket; emotionally, like with a commemorative item that they can keep forever as a reminder of the person or pet they’ve lost; or even spiritually, perhaps by including a Bible verse for grief in the sympathy card.

Since everyone grieves differently, there are a variety ways to show your sympathy during this difficult time. If you’re struggling with how to pick the right gift for someone going through the unimaginable, you should take comfort in knowing that sometimes just being there is the best gift of all.

Gifts In Memory

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Best Religious Sympathy Gift

Angel Figurine Tealight Candle Holder

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Angel Figurine Tealight Candle Holder
Best Religious Sympathy Gift

Angel Figurine Tealight Candle Holder

Now 17% Off
$28 at Amazon

If your loved one is religious, they may appreciate this angel candle holder. It has a peaceful vibe to it, with the angel praying and watching over the burning light.

Non-Flower Sympathy Gift

Memorial Flower Vase With Sympathy Verse

Memorial Flower Vase With Sympathy Verse
Non-Flower Sympathy Gift

Memorial Flower Vase With Sympathy Verse

Since so many mourners are sent flowers, a vase makes a great alternative gift as well. Not only is this glass vase attractive, it also carries a sweet message about lasting memories.

RELATED: 15 Comforting and Uplifting Bible Verses for Funerals

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7 Unique Designs

Gift Jar With Sympathy Messages

Best Seller
Gift Jar With Sympathy Messages
7 Unique Designs

Gift Jar With Sympathy Messages

Credit: Amazon

During the grief process, it's normal to have down days. But these little notes could help lift someone back up. They carry nice messages that will bring a smile to one's face and encourage them to keep going. As one reviewer said, "The notes themselves are cute, sincerely thought-provoking and become a daily hug...with each note read."

Personalized Sympathy Gift

Personalized Handwritten Recipe Cutting Board

Personalized Handwritten Recipe Cutting Board
Personalized Sympathy Gift

Personalized Handwritten Recipe Cutting Board

Credit: TheHrdwoodCom Store

Maybe someone recently lost the cook in their lives, which makes this the perfect gift. The cutting board can be inscribed with a personalized recipe from grandma, grandpa, mom, dad, or anyone else. Though the person they love is gone, their memory will live on through the food they shared.

Loss of Father Sympathy Gift

Prayer Wood Plaque

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Prayer Wood Plaque
Loss of Father Sympathy Gift

Prayer Wood Plaque

Now 25% Off
Credit: Amazon

Perhaps you know someone who lost a father. This wooden plaque carries with it a sweet prayer for a child who is missing their dad. Choose from two different sizes.

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Unique Bereavement Gift

Plant With Love Memorial Tree

Plant With Love Memorial Tree
Unique Bereavement Gift

Plant With Love Memorial Tree

A meaningful gift to give to someone who is grieving, this memorial tree is a nice reminder that after loss, there can still be life. Just provide the zip code of your recipient, and expert growers will choose the best variety of tree for the climate. Choose from two messages for the included card, or customize your own. They'll receive a sustainably grown evergreen sapling along with planting and care instructions.

For Their Garden

LED Outdoor Garden Memorial Bench

LED Outdoor Garden Memorial Bench
For Their Garden

LED Outdoor Garden Memorial Bench

Small, sturdy and special, this bench (which looks like concrete, but is made of resin) is a great gift for someone who is mourning. The gift recipient can put this outside and enjoy it both day and night thanks to the solar powered lights that will keep it illuminated after the sun goes down.

Sympathy Orchid

The Sill Petite White Orchid

Petite White Orchid
Sympathy Orchid

The Sill Petite White Orchid

Credit: The Sill

For a friend or colleague who is grieving, this beautiful potted orchid is a thoughtful gift. Nicknamed the beginner orchid, this popular variety is one of the easiest orchids to grow as a houseplant, which is definitely a plus.

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Best Memorial Wind Chime

Sympathy Wind Chimes for Loss of a Loved One

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Sympathy Wind Chimes for Loss of a Loved One
Best Memorial Wind Chime

Sympathy Wind Chimes for Loss of a Loved One

Now 30% Off
Credit: Amazon

Every time these memorial wind chimes motion with a soothing tone, your gift recipient can remember their lost loved one. While its wood parts are made from pinewood, its tubes are made of anodized aluminum that's also resistant to corrosion. Securely packaged in an elegant box and including a Letter From Heaven Sympathy Card (that's blank inside waiting for your special message), this item makes for a long-lasting gift.

Best Memorial Ornament

'Your Wings Were Ready But My Heart Was Not' Ornament

'Your Wings Were Ready But My Heart Was Not' Ornament
Best Memorial Ornament

'Your Wings Were Ready But My Heart Was Not' Ornament

When the holidays roll around, they can honor their loved one by hanging this ornament from the Christmas tree. It comes in a red velvet gift bag and hangs from a silk ribbon. The quote, "Your wings were ready but my heart was not," is validating for how one might feel, and sometimes that's comfort enough.

Personalized Sympathy Gifts

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Best New Spin on an Old Tradition

Pennies from Heaven Wood Piggy Bank

Pennies from Heaven Wood Piggy Bank
Best New Spin on an Old Tradition

Pennies from Heaven Wood Piggy Bank

The notion behind this piggy bank is that any pennies you find randomly throughout the day are little gifts from your late loved ones. Now you can collect the coins in one special place.

Memorial Plaque for Wall

Memorial Tree Decor

Memorial Tree Decor
Memorial Plaque for Wall

Memorial Tree Decor

How about a tree that one doesn't have to water at all? This decorative wooden plaque featuring a beautiful saying is a great memorial they can display at home. It reads: "A limb has fallen from the family tree. I keep hearing a voice that says, Grieve not for me. Remember the best times, the laughter, the song, the good life I lived while I was strong."

Celebration of Life Gift

Custom Star Map Memorial Gift

Custom Star Map Memorial Gift
Celebration of Life Gift

Custom Star Map Memorial Gift

A great way to remember someone who has passed is with a personalized star map that depicts the night sky on the day they were born. A celebration of life, this unique condolence gift can also be personalized further. Choose the background color, shape, font, text and name, date, location, and whether or not to include coordinates. Once you have your customizations in mind, pick from a number of different sizes in either an unframed print or a white, black, brown, or natural frame.

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In Loving Memory Shadow Box

Memorial Shadow Box

Memorial Shadow Box
In Loving Memory Shadow Box

Memorial Shadow Box

There's a reason why people say losing a loved one can feel like you're missing a limb. This LED shadowbox perfectly captures that immense feeling of loss. The beautiful light up box also features a cardinal, which many people see as a symbol that a loved one is visiting them, serving as a reminder that the people we've lost are never really that far from us.

Best Memorial Lantern With Saying

Memorial Lantern

Memorial Lantern
Best Memorial Lantern With Saying

Memorial Lantern

Credit: Carson Home Accents

Warm the heart and light the darkness with a memorial lantern for someone special experiencing the loss of a loved one. Choose from white and rustic wood color options. The flame-free lantern comes with a battery-powered, flameless LED candle with an automatic timer.

Memorial Jewelry

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Small Sympathy Gift

Amethyst Bead Bracelet

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Amethyst Bead Bracelet
Small Sympathy Gift

Amethyst Bead Bracelet

Now 33% Off
Credit: Amazon

Many believe that amethyst has healing properties. Whether that's true or not, this pretty bracelet will be a reminder to anyone grieving that they're loved and cherished by the person who gave the gift to them.

Memorial Jewelry for Loss of Mother

Butterfly Remembrance Necklace

Butterfly Remembrance Necklace
Memorial Jewelry for Loss of Mother

Butterfly Remembrance Necklace

Credit: Amazon

Butterflies symbolize hope, rebirth, and transformation. After losing someone as significant as a mother, this butterfly necklace will help the child who's grieving to remember that there is hope in life, still. And for those who believe in some form of an afterlife, the butterfly can represent the next great adventure that their mother is on.

Headshot of Lauren Wellbank
Lauren Wellbank
Contributing Writer

Lauren Wellbank is a freelance writer based in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, Huffington Post, Martha Stewart Living, and more. She has three small children, a husband, and an over eager dog at home. When she's not writing she likes to work in her garden with her family.

Headshot of Ysolt Usigan

Ysolt Usigan is a lifestyle writer and editor with 15+ years of experience working in digital media. She has created share-worthy content for publishers Shape, What To Expect, Cafe Mom, TODAY, CBS News, HuffPo, The Bump, Health, Ask Men, and Best Gifts. A working mom of two, her editorial expertise in parenting, shopping, and home are rooted in her everyday life. 

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