Special gift ideas for those in your life who have lost a loved one
The team at J Henry Stuhr Funeral Home knows that the holidays can be extremely difficult for someone who has lost a loved one. However, finding a special gift for them doesn’t have to be. Sometimes, giving a gift to someone that honors their loved one’s memory or helps them through the grief process may comfort them during this time of year. Here are a few ideas to use:
The holidays can be very difficult for someone mourning a loved one.
Remembrance Gift
The last thing the bereaved want during the holiday season is to have everyone forget about the person that they lost. Instead, honor their memory with a special Christmas ornament that can be added to the tree. In Charleston, Palmetto Engraving and Croghan’s Jewel Box carry ornaments, such as bell- and angel-shaped, that can be engraved with the person who has passed. Croghan’s also offers an engravable locket, where you can add a photo to keep the loved one close to the heart.
Picture-Perfect Gifts
Compiling photos of someone who has passed into a keepsake book is another unique idea. Flipping through the pages and remembering the special times makes this a wonderful year-round gift. You can bring photos to local printers such as Prism Photo Labs or AlphaGraphics, who can help you create a beautiful coffee table photo book. If you’re looking for something smaller, try compiling a few photos and adding them to an album, scrapbook, or digital frame that regularly rotates photos.
Photo albums can be a great gift for someone who is grieving.
A Touch of Their Loved One
Don’t be so quick to pack away a loved one’s clothes. Some companies can turn an old shirt into a pillow or several shirts into a blanket to wrap around someone who is grieving. It will feel like their loved one is close and offering warmth.
A Bit of Inspiration
Books make great gifts, whether they’re blank journals where they can write down their feelings, save their favorite inspirational quotes, or document memories of their loved ones. A few options include The Five Invitations by Frank Ostaseski, the founder of the Zen Hospice Center, which offers five key teachings about life and death, and It’s Okay to Laugh by Nora McInerny Purmort.
Self-Care
Someone mourning a painful loss may not give themselves the attention they deserve. Help them to do that with a gift card to their favorite restaurant, spa, or salon. If they are not up to going out yet, buying a gift card for groceries, meal deliveries, or a cleaning service is a good alternative.
Sometimes your time, or even something practical like a grocery delivery can make an excellent gift for someone mourning.
Your Time and Attention
Sometimes, even with great gift certificates and the perfect presents that honor their loved ones, someone grieving can struggle to do the basics—even leave home. The best gift you can give them during the holiday season is showing them you care. Call them or stop by, bring dinner or a dessert, and spend some time talking with them. If they need help shopping for groceries or other necessities, assisting them with this is a gesture they will appreciate.
Stuhr Funeral Home, a trusted name in funeral service for more than 150 years, cares for families of those whose lives have ended. Stuhr Funeral Home is committed to providing quality arrangements to honor loved ones and family traditions. For more information about available funeral services, visit JHenryStuhr.com or call (843) 723-2524.
