Funeral and sympathy flowers for families in Toronto and York Region
Funeral flowers and sympathy arrangements in quiet whites, creams and greens, designed by hand in our Oak Ridges studio. Send them ahead of a service or to the family home, with a few kind words on the card.
- 5 designs
- from $75
- Same-day when you order by 1 pm
5 designs
Funeral flowers for the service
Flowers sent for a funeral or visitation are for the room. They stand near the casket or urn, or along the front, and everyone who comes to pay their respects sees them. That is why funeral arrangements tend to be larger and simpler in colour, with a clear shape that still reads from the back rows.
White Vigil is made for exactly that: white roses, lilies and chrysanthemums in a white wicker basket, with tall palm leaves fanning out behind for height. Quiet Lilies follows the same idea, with white roses standing over a band of open lilies and eucalyptus filling the sides.
A few details help the flowers arrive when they should:
- Check the obituary for the visitation and service times, and choose a delivery date before the first one.
- Give the full address of the funeral home or place of worship, and the full name of the person who has died.
- Sign the card so the family knows who sent it, for example "With love, the Sharma family".
If you have something larger in mind for a service, call us on (437) 291-5605 or write to us through the contact page and we can talk it through.
Sympathy flowers for the family home
Sympathy flowers sent to the house are for the people left behind. They do not need to be big. Something that fits on a kitchen table or a side table, in soft colours, is usually right, and it keeps them company after the service, when the house goes quiet.
Sage and Stock is a good example: ten white stocks wrapped in white and sage paper, cool and calm, with the sweet scent stocks are known for. Peach and Plum is warmer, a mixed bouquet that in the photos pairs pink lilies with hydrangea, white roses and deep plum chrysanthemums, for a family who would rather have a little colour than all white.
Both are bouquets, so someone will need a vase. If you suspect the family has enough to deal with, our vase arrangements arrive ready to set down.
One caution: lilies are highly toxic to cats, pollen included. If there is a cat in the house, pick a design without them.
And timing can be gentle. The first days are often full of visitors. Flowers that arrive two or three weeks later, once the casseroles have stopped coming, are often the ones a family remembers.
Funeral flower etiquette: colours, customs and timing
There are very few hard rules, but a few customs are worth knowing before you order.
Colour. White, cream and green are the most common choice for funeral flowers in Canada and are hard to get wrong. Soft pink, lilac and pale blue are widely sent too, especially to the home. Red roses are usually left to a spouse or very close family.
Customs vary. In Jewish tradition, flowers are not usually part of the funeral or shiva, and food or a donation is more common. Many Muslim families also keep funerals simple and may prefer no flowers. In many Chinese families, white and yellow are the mourning colours and red is avoided. Every family is different, so if you are unsure, ask someone close to them, or send something small to the home a little later.
"In lieu of flowers." If the obituary asks for donations instead, follow that. A personal note to the family weeks later is still a kind thing to do.
Who sends what. Close family often send the pieces for the service. Friends, neighbours and colleagues more often send to the home, or put in together for one arrangement from the office.
What sympathy flowers traditionally mean
Most people do not choose funeral flowers by meaning, and nobody at a service is checking. Still, it can be a small comfort to know what the flowers you picked have long stood for.
- White lilies are the flower most tied to funerals in the West, often read as the soul at peace.
- White roses traditionally stand for reverence, innocence and remembrance.
- Chrysanthemums are kept for funerals and graves in much of Europe and parts of Asia, while in Canada they are an everyday flower, valued because they last.
- White carnations are a long-standing sign of remembrance and pure love.
- Lisianthus is often linked with appreciation, a quiet way of saying thank you for a life.
- Palm leaves, in Christian tradition, stand for peace and life beyond death.
If you would like to read further, our journal piece on funeral flower meanings and symbolism goes into more detail, flower by flower.
What to write on a sympathy card
You type your message at checkout and we tuck the card in with the flowers. Short is fine. A few starting points, to change into your own words:
- 01
When you knew them well
Name one real thing: "I will miss Dave's laugh at every barbecue. Thinking of you all." A small, true memory means more than a polished sentence.
- 02
When you mainly know the family
"With deepest sympathy, thinking of you and your family." Simple and warm. Nobody expects more from you.
- 03
From colleagues
"With sincere condolences from all of us at the Markham office." Name the team so the family knows where the flowers came from.
- 04
For a close friend
"I'm here, whatever you need, whenever you need it." Then follow it up with a call. That matters more than the card.
- 05
When words feel hard
"There are no words. Sending you so much love." It is honest, and that is enough.
- 06
For a family of faith
"Holding you in our prayers" suits many families. Keep religious wording for people you know share it.
- 07
Weeks or months later
"Thinking of you today, and remembering Mary." Flowers on a first birthday or anniversary tell a family that people have not forgotten.
- 08
How to sign it
Use full names, or "the Chen family", so nobody is left guessing who sent it. Families often write thank-you notes later and will want to know.
Delivery
Made in Richmond Hill, delivered the same day
Order by 1 pm
for same-day delivery to most postal codes in York Region and Toronto.
Pick a window
Choose anytime, morning or afternoon at checkout, today or any date ahead.
Delivery from $12
Priced by driving distance from the studio. You see the exact fee before you pay. Free on orders over $300 within 35 km.
Questions people ask
Something else? Call (437) 291-5605 or send us a message.
Is it better to send funeral flowers to the funeral home or the house?
Both are appropriate. Flowers at the funeral home honour the person who has died and are seen by everyone at the visitation. Flowers at the house comfort the family and stay with them after the service. Close family often send to the service, while friends and colleagues often send to the home.
When should funeral flowers arrive?
Ideally before the visitation or service begins, so they are in place when the family arrives. Check the times in the obituary and choose a delivery date before then. Flowers for the home can go at any time, and many families appreciate them a week or two after the funeral.
Can I send sympathy flowers the same day in Toronto or York Region?
Yes. Order by 1 pm for same-day delivery to most postal codes across Toronto and York Region, including Richmond Hill, Markham, Vaughan and Newmarket. If the service is very soon, choose the morning window, or call us on (437) 291-5605 to talk through timing.
Can I order a casket spray or standing spray?
Larger pieces for a service are not in our online shop. If you have something in mind, call us on (437) 291-5605 or send a message through our contact page with the date and details of the service, and we can talk about what is possible.
What colour flowers are appropriate for a funeral?
White, cream and green are the safest and most common choice. Soft pastels such as blush, lilac and pale blue are also widely sent, especially to the home. Customs differ between families and cultures, so some avoid red, for example. If the person loved a particular colour, including it is a lovely touch.
What does "in lieu of flowers" mean?
It means the family would prefer a donation, usually to a charity named in the obituary, instead of flowers for the funeral. It is kindest to follow their wishes. If you would still like to do something personal, a card or a small bouquet sent to the home some weeks later is usually received warmly.