Is there anything appropriate to send a friend who suffered a bereavement?

[Timelime]

Her dh died suddenly. We've not seen each other for many years and I didn't really know her dh. However, she was a good friend and we're still in regular contact FB, WhatsApp etc... Just sending a card doesn't feel like enough but anything I think to send her seems trivial or contrived. I plan to visit her later in the year, if she is keen but don't know how to show support in the meantime. She has masses of friends and family local to her, so isn't short of practical support.

I sent a friend a plant and another friend a bottle of v nice wine.

DH died 5 months ago, I have been so grateful for, and blessed with my friends. I liked the flowers but they weren’t excessive, I also had two rose bushes named after him.
Cook meals were amazing and so easy, freezer then microwave, exactly what I needed. As others have said delivered to the house so really minimal effort needed for the receiver. I found this so helpful. I was also sent a temporary hello fresh subscription.
So many messages with no need to reply, no pressure.
Echo other posters with offers of actual acts, dog being walked, kids going for sleepovers and days out etc. really helpful.
A really old school friend sent me a bracelet with his and mine birthstones on, her sister who I am v close to also bought me a journaling type book around grief that she found helpful when her baby died. Both v personal but so valued.
A tiny little set of candles to light when needing a moment of hope, just beautiful, from a friend who had just lost her dad, I bought her a book of donna ashworth poems on loss.
Coffee/meals out, ones I didn’t have to arrange or think about.
Lots of lovely cards with personal messages, really lovely and much easier to deal with than phone calls and sometimes texts.
A very old school friend sent a card saying pretty much what you are thinking and leaving me her number to call/message her when/if I feel ready which I will do in the next month or so.
Whilst DH was dying friends sent me hampers of lovely bath and skincare stuff, I didn’t have time to use them whilst caring for him but have worked through them after he died which has also been lovely.
You sound very thoughtful, I am sure whatever you choose to do will be very well received. Thank you for thinking of your friend and being sensitive to what she might need, this was the greatest gift all my friends gave me.

My DH died very suddenly and completely unexpectedly just over three months ago. I got a lot of flowers - some of them were appreciated eg I got a bouquet from the other liveries on the livery yard where I’m sharing a horse - I’d only just started there so didn’t know anyone that well but that was very touching. However some bunches were from people who knew me very well and I was surprised they’d sent them. Some of my friends sent me some warm PJs and cosy socks etc which was lovely and I got a few Cook deliveries which was very helpful as I had zero appetite and couldn’t be bothered to make anything.

Cards with the sender's memories of my husband in, were what meant the most to me. It's tricky if you didn't really know the DH though.

But yep, if you haven't seen her for a long time, anything else is probably overkill. The visit will be of much more value.

I'm so sorry to hear of your own losses. Thank you for taking time to share your thoughts with me.

In the end I sent a card and wrote a letter

A little token is lovely. This is my 'go to' for care packages and sympathy gifts:

www.notanotherbunchofflowers.com/collections/bereavement-gifts

They have cute gift boxes with things like candles, forget-me-not seeds and nibbles.

I read an article by a bereavement counsellor who suggested little things like biscuits are good as your appetite can be completely affected, so having some nice biscuits or something easy to nibble on is thoughtful and appreciated.