Any Ideas for what goes in a Sympathy Gift Basket?
An out-of-town friend, who is very dear to us, lost a young sister to cancer. This has obviously been very devastating for her, and we really want to give her a gift basket of things that will soothe and comfort her. Unfortunately, I find that the gift baskets which I’ve found online have irrelevent and — in my opinion — inappropriate sympathy gifts (like cheese logs, and sausages..etc.) I fear I lack the ettiquette to pull this one off.
PLEASE – does anyone have any ideas for classy, inspiring sympathy gift baskets that aren’t corny. Nothing over-the-top with inspirational messages, or bible verses. I’m sure she would appreciate anything we give her, but our friend is a very hip, young, modern woman, with taste.
Please list your top 3 suggestions for things that are classy, tasteful, that will soothe her in her grief, and won’t offend her.
(hint: anything organic is also good)
Thank you everyone! I only have a few days to do this
One thing I found very hard to do after the loss of my mother was to just keep going through the every day trivial things of life. The BEST thing someone did for me was cook…. I was so devastated I was forgetting to eat…. so, fruit, crackers, teas always work too…. a plant of some sort is a nice touch…. if you are going to make it yourself, go to Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods and fill that basket up with foods that can be nibbled on…. And you might include a very tasteful journal and nice pen with a little note that states, "here is a place for you to write down all of your memories of your sister. May you be filled with the joy she brought to your life."
Or something like that…. I think, more than anything, it is the fact that you are thinking about her that will bring comfort to her…
Filed under: organic gifts
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One thing to put in the basket is this:
a Willow Tree (that’s the brand/line) angel called "Angel of Remembrance." Go here to see a pic of it:
http://www.christmaspeople.com/angel-figurines/12746.asp
I collect these Willow Trees. People have given me that one, and a nice one with a book (I’m a librarian), and I have given my mom an Angel of Generosity or something like that. They are quality keepsakes — look kind of primitive.
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personal opinions/experience
One thing I found very hard to do after the loss of my mother was to just keep going through the every day trivial things of life. The BEST thing someone did for me was cook…. I was so devastated I was forgetting to eat…. so, fruit, crackers, teas always work too…. a plant of some sort is a nice touch…. if you are going to make it yourself, go to Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods and fill that basket up with foods that can be nibbled on…. And you might include a very tasteful journal and nice pen with a little note that states, "here is a place for you to write down all of your memories of your sister. May you be filled with the joy she brought to your life."
Or something like that…. I think, more than anything, it is the fact that you are thinking about her that will bring comfort to her…
References :
http://www.shopzilla.com/8B–Gift_Baskets_-_att266052–275813-__att627212–275607-__cat_id–16010600__kw–sympathy%2Bgift%2Bbaskets__qcid–199586852942
A basket containing things your hip, modern friend would enjoy at any time, with something that ties it in with the loss of her sister.
A humor book with a bookmark or note about shared laughter, a bottle of wine and two glasses, because her sister is always with her, a blank book and a nice pen for storing memories.
Runners-up include comfort food that keeps (and is organic), a prepaid phone card so she can call you when she needs to talk, music she and her sister might have shared, a spa or massage certificate, a gift certificate for a hotel where you live.
Loss is hard. What she needs isn’t stuff, but evidence of caring and indicators that while her life will go on, her sister will be missed and not forgotten.
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I think a basket may be a little much, unless it’s food. Snacks may be nice. I had three deaths in three months and sometimes just didn’t feel like eating. A snack here & there was nice. I don’t think I could’ve handled a basket of things. You’re a very sweet person for being so thoughtful to your friend. Just knowing that you care & are there for her means more than you can imagine.
(So, you’re saying if you’re hip, modern and young, with taste, you wouldn’t appreciate anything inspirational or Biblical? Aren’t you judging her? If anytime would be appropriate, THIS is the time!)
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A book on how to deal with grief after losing a loved one. Fruit. Maybe some flowers. An inspirational music CD. Maybe cook her favorite dish.
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I have given a few sympathy baskets and the two I got the most thanks from was:
1. Basket full of White Tiger Lilies
2. A fruit basket that was delivered to the funeral home the morning of the first viewing. The family usually spends the entire afternoon there the first day, so food is a great thing and not tacky at all.
Good luck
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