When you've experienced the death of a family member or acquaintance, it can be difficult to know exactly how to acknowledge the grief you know the immediate family must be going through. Sending flowers is traditional, but if you are seeking a more personal gesture, a condolence basket may be appropriate as well. Condolence baskets provide a direct show of support to the immediate family, and add a personal touch in a time of hardship. They are especially helpful if you need to communicate your sympathy over a long distance, or will be unable to attend the services personally.

After a death in the family, friends and family often gather together. The bereaved family now has to provide refreshments and snacks for additional guests, at a stressful time. Condolence baskets, for this reason, are generally edible or consumable - wine, fruit, cheese, etc. They are intended to be consumed by the family at a time when no one really feels up to cooking, but everyone needs to eat and keep their strength up.

There are many options available, ranging from baskets meant to serve a light snack, to baskets that contain the ingredients for an entire meal. Fruit baskets are always popular, as they provide quick, healthy snacks for mourners that are gathered, without any preparation or clean up. A fruit basket can simply be set out as-is, and family members can eat from it as they choose without any extra effort.

When ordering your sympathy gift basket, however, it is wise to take into account any dietary restrictions that the family has. If they are a no-dairy family, for example, a cheese basket would be inappropriate. If a family member is a recovering alcoholic, you might want to avoid sending a wine basket at this difficult time. Be considerate of the family's lifestyle choices and dietary needs, and a condolence basket can truly be a lovely way to show that you are with the grieving family in spirit.

In addition to your condolence basket, you may want to consider sending flowers to the funeral home. You also could follow up with a phone call or letter a few weeks after the death, once the family has had time to settle in. Check on them, and ask if there is anything that they need now that things have calmed down a bit. After the chaos is over, they will still need supportive friends like you to send cards, letters, and occasional thoughtful gifts to cheer them up as they work through a difficult time.

Condolence baskets are a wonderful way to show that you are with the bereaved family in spirit, even if you cannot be there in person. They can be ordered online, and most websites offer expedited shipping so that the basket arrives as soon after the tragedy as possible. Cards and expressions of sympathy can be added to the basket, and your gift is delivered directly to the family's doorstep. If you cannot be present yourself, a condolence basket is the next best thing.