What to Bring to a Funeral

If you aren’t a frequent funeral-goer you might be a little unsure of what to bring (and what not to bring) to the funeral of a friend or family member. And if that’s the case – then that’s great! Not having heaps of funerals to go to isn’t exactly a bad thing. But making strange or not-super-appropriate decisions when it comes to bringing bits and bobs to a funeral or memorial service, can be.

To make things easy? What you ‘should’ bring to a funeral often depends on your relationship with the deceased and their family, or your role during the memorial service / funeral proceedings. There also isn’t really a rule book on what’s ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ to bring to a funeral, so if none of our recommendations sound 100% right for you, just go with your gut and do whatever you feel most comfortable with.

Things to bring to a funeral:

Yourself

Obviously. And sometimes all you really need to bring to a funeral is you! Presence is important, and anything else you bring along with you is often an added bonus. However, there are some religions that require funeral-goers to bring certain items with them on the day, so make sure you check the requirements if you’re heading to a funeral of someone whose religion differs from yours.

Flowers

They’re a very traditional funeral gift, and you often can’t go wrong with a bunch of beautiful blooms. As mentioned above, though, we’d recommend checking in on religious requirements before bringing anything to a funeral (flowers included), as some religions prohibit floral arrangements at cemeteries or on graves.

The most common funeral flowers (if you want to play it safe) are:

• Carnations
• Lilies
• Orchids
• Roses

A card

Writing a letter to the family of the deceased can be a lovely way to share your well wishes for them, especially if vocalising your emotions or memories doesn’t come naturally to you. Every post office, service station and supermarket have a range of cards perfect for condolences. Alternatively, you can always get a little creative and create a DIY card yourself!

Make a donation to a charity

A lovely way to acknowledge the impact a loved one has had on your life is by making a donation to a charity of relevance to them or their cause of death. We’ve listed a few popular charities to donate to in this guide. Then, bring the certificate along to the funeral in a sealed envelope.

Wrap up

As we mentioned above, your presence is often the best present when it comes to funeral gifts. And, if you feel like doing something a little extra, our recommendations above are our first go-to’s. Remember that different religions and cultures have their own funeral traditions – some ban certain gifts, while others ban gifts in general. Check in with someone who’s in-the-know before bringing anything along to a funeral, and if you’re feeling unsure? Just bring you.

If you are need to arrange a funeral, the team at Willed can help. Phone 1300 945 533 to speak with a dedicated funeral arranger today.