When should I visit? Upon learning of a death, intimate friends of the family should visit the home to offer sympathy and ask if they can help. You may prefer to visit the family at the funeral home. This setting may be more comfortable for you and the family, as they are prepared for visitors. [...]
Music is powerful and important to many people, and choosing to include music in a funeral or memorial service can help make the service particularly meaningful and personal. There are certain pieces of music that are commonly played at funerals or memorial services, such as "Amazing Grace" or Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World." However, [...]
Flowers for the funeral service go to the funeral home. The arrangements are often large and formal and provide decoration and serve as a tribute to the deceased. They will look best in a funeral home and at graveside services. Funeral flowers are usually not addressed to a particular loved one of the deceased but [...]
Lilies The lily is the flower most commonly associated with funeral services as they symbolize the innocence that has been restored to the soul of the departed. White stargazer lilies symbolizes sympathy and any type of white lily expresses majesty and purity. Carnations Long lasting and fragrant, carnations are a popular choice for sympathy arrangements. [...]
Remembrance Plaques Whether you place it in your home, office or church, a remembrance plaque is a wonderful way to memorialize the one you love. You can include a poem, memory, photo or simply dates of birth and death. Regardless of what you engrave on it, a remembrance plaque will serve as a reminder of [...]
Recommend help. There is only so much that a friend or family member can offer to someone who is grieving without putting too much strain on themselves. Gently suggest seeking therapeutic help to give them a special place to cope with their loss. Continue to check in on them. At the time of a funeral, [...]
Share memories. If you knew the deceased, share photos and stories about him or her in person, or in a note or email. If you didn't know the person who died, ask to hear a story about him while you're being present and sharing lunch with the bereaved. Check in weeks and months later. The [...]