Few things in life are as painful as the death of someone young. They leave us too early, before they have lived out their dreams and hopes, and before they have seen all the beauty of the world. All we can do is offer a prayer for their blessing, and a gentle, sincere funeral wreath, to show reverence and deep respect for a young soul who has gone. So what kind of wreath is most fitting and meaningful when the person who died was young? This guide sets it out.
How to choose a respectful wreath for someone who died young
Choosing a fitting funeral wreath for a young person is a way of showing reverence and deep respect for the one who has gone. Here are some suggestions to help you choose a wreath that is appropriate and meaningful:
Choose flowers in a soft white rather than bright colours, out of respect for the fragile, delicate beauty of a short young life.
Chrysanthemums and orchids are usually taken to stand for stillness and youth, which is why they are considered the most suitable choice for a young person.
Give preference to wreaths with a simple, gentle and courteous design. Avoid designs that are too complicated, or that have a great deal of fussy, showy decoration.
Choose a wreath of moderate size: it need not be very large or grand, but it should not be too small either. That way it can express your sorrow for the deceased in full, and also show the respect of an older person for someone of a younger generation.
Choosing a suitable funeral wreath or funeral flower basket for a young person calls for tact, sincerity of meaning and heartfelt reverence on the part of the sender. A life that passed so quickly makes this farewell hard to bear, but a wreath is one of the best ways to show respect and to honour the presence of a young person who stays in our hearts.
Which flowers to choose for the funeral of a young person
Choosing a wreath for someone who died young is not simply an expression of sympathy. It also carries respect, and regret for a life that was so short. A carefully chosen wreath shows the sender’s concern, and deep respect for a fine spirit that was full of ambition. So which flowers should you choose for a young person who has died early?
White chrysanthemum
With its pure, delicate beauty, the white chrysanthemum is a favoured choice for a wreath sent to the funeral of a young person. At a funeral, white chrysanthemums are usually taken to express innocence, pure beauty and a simple spirit. They are a way of showing sorrow and deep respect for a young life cut short.
A wreath for a young person, made of white chrysanthemums and pale pink roses.
Tuberose
The tuberose is a symbol of reverence and deep feeling for the person who has gone. Choosing tuberose is regarded as a tactful and meaningful way of offering words of condolence without speaking, and it also shows full respect and sincerity towards the deceased.
A funeral wreath made of tuberose and white roses.
Orchid
Orchids are regarded as a traditional funeral flower because they bring out love, affection and a quiet depth of feeling. Their graceful beauty and gentle scent are felt to give the family a sense of being deeply respected, and of having their grief shared and understood. Choosing orchids for a funeral is also a way of showing affection for the young person who has gone.
A funeral basket of yellow orchids, elegant, with a design that is simple but refined.
White rose
White roses usually carry a message of reverence, together with recognition and praise for everything the deceased achieved in their lifetime. Choosing them for the funeral of a young person is a thoughtful way to show sincerity and to honour a short life.
A funeral basket of white roses in a youthful style, with a creative arrangement.
Sincere words of condolence for the family
Here are some messages of comfort and shared sorrow for a family in mourning. Vietnamese speakers address one another with family terms rather than “you”, so each message is written as if to a younger or older relative; the English gives the sense.
Ai rồi cũng phải trải qua sinh lão bệnh tử. Mong rằng gia đình đừng quá đau buồn về sự ra đi quá sớm của em. Thành kính phân ưu!: “Everyone must pass through birth, old age, sickness and death. I hope the family will not grieve too deeply at losing him so early. With deepest sympathy.”
Nghe tin cháu ra đi mà lòng tôi đau thắt. Tôi hiểu cảm giác hiện giờ của anh chị, vì thế mà tôi thương và chia sẻ với anh chị rất nhiều. Mong rằng quý anh chị sẽ sớm vượt qua được cảm giác mất mát to lớn hiện tại., “My heart ached when I heard that your child had gone. I understand what you are feeling now, and I feel for you both and share your sorrow. I hope you will soon come through this great loss.”
Chân thành mong cầu cháu sẽ sớm được vãng sanh cực lạc, về cõi vĩnh hằng hưởng niềm an yên chốn không có đau thương và hỷ nộ ái ố. “I sincerely pray that your child will soon be reborn in the Pure Land and rest in the eternal realm, at peace in a place without pain or the turmoil of human feelings.” (A Buddhist wish.)
Anh/ chị hãy cố gắng giữ gìn sức khỏe nhé. Sự ra đi đột ngột của cháu có thể là niềm mất mát vô tận đối với cha mẹ. Nhưng đâu đó trên thiên đường, cháu bé cũng sẽ chẳng mong chứng kiến cảnh tượng cha mẹ của mình quá đau buồn đâu! Chân thành chia sẻ cùng anh chị., “Please try to look after your health. Your child’s sudden passing may be an endless loss for a mother and father. But somewhere in heaven, the little one would not want to see their parents in such sorrow. I sincerely share your grief.”
Em mong rằng gia đình mình sẽ nén đau thương và cùng động viên nhau để có thể vượt qua nỗi mất mát thương tâm này., “I hope the family will bear up under this grief and support one another through this heartbreaking loss.”
Sinh thời cháu bé là một đứa trẻ ngoan hiền và lễ phép. Sau khi mất đi, chị tin chắc cháu cũng sẽ hóa thành một thiên thần đáng yêu thôi. Chị mong em đừng quá đau buồn về sự ra đi của cháu nhé!, “In life your little one was a good, gentle and polite child. I am sure that now they have become a lovely angel. I hope you will not grieve too deeply.”
Một kiếp sống vô cùng chóng vánh em nhỉ? Nếu suy nghĩ tích cực mà nói, sự ra đi quá sớm của cháu cũng là một sự giải thoát kịp thời cho những dày vò bệnh tật mà cháu phải gánh chịu. Hãy nhẹ nhàng với hiện thực này hơn và chúc phúc cho con em nhé!, “Such a brief life, wasn’t it? Looked at more gently, your child’s early passing is also a release from the suffering that illness brought. Try to be gentle with yourself in facing this, and wish your child well.” (Written for a child who had been ill.)
Let a refined and meaningful wreath tell a good story about life, about human kindness and about the deep feeling that remains for those who have died. And let these bouquets and condolence baskets be a keepsake of love and lasting respect for a life that passed too quickly. Flosa hopes these notes on wreaths for a young person have been of use to you. We are truly sorry for your loss.
