Funeral Favors and Gifts – Tacky or Sweet Memory?

What are Funeral Favors?

Funeral favors given out at a memorial service or funeral have been growing in popularity. These favors are a small token, often representing something the person loved. They can be a sweet memento. While some funeral favors could be tacky and over the top, the ones I have received were a nice way to remember the person, not just the funeral.

One nice idea for an easy funeral favor is a printed recipe card of a dish that your loved one is known for. We offer several templates of recipe card templates that match our funeral programs on Etsy here.

Funeral Favor Examples

Recently, I attended the funeral of a gentleman who was an avid golfer and stamp collector. His group of friends had put together a basket of favors for attendees. The favors were a golf ball in a net bag. Attached to the bag was a small card with the man’s photo, his recent golf scores, and some funny quotes that had been uttered amongst friends on a golf course. And, the memorial service was decorated with items from all of his hobbies, including images from golfing and stamp collecting.

His wife even prepared a basket of interesting stamps to give to those who were interested. These mementoes can be lovely memories. I know that when I received a prayer card from my grandfather’s funeral, I immediately hid it away in my desk. Whenever I find it, I cry. However, whenever I see the golf ball with his silly quotes attached, I smile in memory of his sharp wit.

There are definitely funeral favors that can be carefully chosen to honor your loved one’s memory.

Beautiful bookmark templates for a funeral favor

How to Choose a Funeral Favor

Funeral favors can be chosen in a way similar to choosing the theme or decorations for a funeral. Consider what your loved one enjoyed doing, what they are known for, or what they loved. Anything that would remind an attendee of that person.

A funeral favor could be something that your loved one already owned, or it could be bought and prepared for the memorial service. In the examples above, the stamps were shared from the man’s collection. The golf balls were bought and prepared by his friends.

If your loved one enjoyed gardening, a packet of seeds would be a nice choice. Or, if they loved quilting, maybe a bit of fabric, or a quilt square. If the gifts are chosen and presented in a thoughtful manner, they will be appreciated by those who loved the person.

Funeral Favor Ideas

There are as many ideas for funeral favors as there are hobbies! These gifts can be anything that is small, personal, and easily obtainable. To get you started, here is a list of some ideas.

• Printed Recipe – A family favorite printed recipe is such a nice idea. Family members often want that special “secret” recipe. And, whenever they make the recipe, they may have fond memories of the person who made it for them.
• Bookmark – A bookmark is a great idea if your loved one was an avid reader. And, instead of getting stored away in a drawer, the bookmark will get used and seen. It would be nice to include your loved one’s favorite literary quote on the bookmark for a special memory.
• Personalized matchbook – A custom printed matchbook would be nice, especially if accompanied by a remembrance candle
• Candle
• Personalized wooden cooking spoon – If your loved one was an avid cook or baker, a painted wooden spoon is a fun way to memorialize them. These can be painted, wood burned, or engraved.
• Stamps – you can often find stamps from a personal collection or local stamp collector
• Custom Golf balls – Golf balls can be purchased with customized photos or quotes. Or, they can be purchased plain or from your loved one’s collection, then stored in an organza bag with a quote attached

• Golf tees
• Personalized pens or pencils
• Personalized seed packets – Seed packets make nice funeral favors because they offer beauty and life from year to year.
• Magnets A customized magnet could be a nice gift, as people can put it on their refrigerator as a nice memory
• Custom Tea bags with a message on the tag – A custom tea bag with a personalized message or quote is a nice, warming memory in times of distress.
• Pins with their photo or favorite saying
• Fortune cookies with custom fortunes
• Pocket stone with a quote – A special pocket stone with a quote is a nice funeral gift. A touch stone kept in someone’s pocket can be a nice calming memory. I do not think these are available with custom quotes, but the stones readily available tend to have sweet messages such as “love”, “pray”, and “serenity.”
• Charm or special bead for bracelet or necklace – While charms or beads can be purchased to give as a funeral favor, it would also be nice to share small beads from your loved one’s collection. Recipients would feel like they were sharing something special and beloved with them.
• Small sapling tree – A small sapling is a nice idea, since once planted, it can offer years of gentle comfort.

• Plant-able paper with seeds embedded
• Candy with a customized wrapper – If you loved one had a sweet tooth, this is a perfect idea. You can print out paper and wrap candy with a custom wrapper. Or, you can purchase customized wrappers from places such as Etsy.
• Custom hot chocolate packet – Like the customized tea bag, a hot chocolate packet with a custom wrapper can offer comfort and warmth during a time of sadness.
• Custom guitar pick – A custom guitar pick is perfect for a music lover. You can have a quote of photo printed on the pick. Music comforts the soul, and holding a pick will bring comforting memories.
• Small tool
• Cookies – Giving away small bags of a treasured cookie recipe at a funeral is a sweet idea. It would be nice to accompany these with the special “secret” printed recipe!
• Champaign flutes or shot glasses – Champaign flutes or shot glasses could be purchased for a funeral favor. However, these would be nice to share from a personal collection. Lifting a glass in memory of your loved one would bring a smile to many people.
• Personalized measuring spoons
• Coffee beans in a custom bag
• A small plant such as a cactus
• Herbs growing in a pot
• A custom deck of cards or small game
• Tiny containers of sand from a favorite beach

• Sea shells – For your beach lover, a small grouping of sea shells put in an organza bag would be a lovely funeral git.
• Books – While you can purchase books to give away, it would be nice to share books from a book lovers special collection. These could even be offered with custom printed bookmarks for a wonderful memory.
• Baseball hats – Baseball hats, too, could be offered from your loved one’s collection.
• Feathers
• Crayons and paper – Paper and art supplies would be a nice funeral favor. These could be purchased, or shared from your loved one’s stash
• Quilt squares – If your loved one like to quilt, it would so special to share unfinished quilt squares. People could use them to make a pillow, quilt or table topper. These would provide wonderful, everlasting memories of a creative soul.
• Stationery

Funeral Favor Ideas from Amazon

Amazon offers many options for funeral favors. These range from extravagant to simple and sweet mementos. If you are considering funeral favors, and know what theme you wish to look for, you may consider one of the following funeral favor ideas:

Really, the list is endless. Just use your imagination to feel what would share good memories of your loved one. If done with thought, love, and care, funeral favors are not tacky, but a lovely memory.

When and How to Give out Funeral Favors

There is no set way to distribute the funeral favors. It is nice to have the favors available in a basket at the entrance of the memorial service. People can pick them up as they move in to the service, or on the way out. Or, you could have them available by the displays relating to the item in the service area.

I think it is better to have them available as people walk by, and not to personally hand them out. That way, no one has to feel bad for not accepting a gift. Everyone grieves in their own way.

Funeral Favors – A lovely memory

I do not believe that funeral favors are tacky. Instead, if chosen with care and with regards to your loved one’s interests, they can be a very sweet memory. Every time someone uses the favor, they will be able to share in the beautiful life that was lost.

For more help on planning a funeral, click here for some helpful resources