When attending a funeral service, you should bring a token or gift showing that you empathize with the grieving family. You should take a basket of flowers or consider some memorial cards for funeral events. Assistance to the grieving family and interment gifts can be offered before or after the burial.
It is common to give flowers for an interment. A pretty bouquet of lilies, roses or carnations would look fitting. These are blooms that are usually appropriate for funeral services. You can bring a basket of flowers yourself or have one delivered with a note card.
You can also offer a pot of shrubs or a tree that can act as a life-long memorial for the deceased. This can be delivered to the venue or to the home of the grieving family. It can be planted on the ground to serve as remembrance to the dead in the garden.
If the dead had patronized and supported a charitable institution, you can also offer your condolences by making a donation to the charity. This is a common alternative to sending flowers. Your monetary offering can be made in honor of the dead person as remembrance to his dedication to his charitable cause.
A guestbook is a necessity if the family of the deceased is holding a wake. Visitors can sign their name on the book so relatives can later go through the list after the burial. You can offer to provide a customized guestbook that guests can use to leave their mark of their presence at the memorial service.
You should look at some memorial or prayer cards. You may get one that contains a printed message or quote or you may write your own note in a blank one. You could send it by mail or attach it to a basket of flowers. You can also bring it to the memorial service personally.
