Funeral & Sympathy Services
Sympathy Flowers
Sympathy flowers are sent to the family's home rather than the service — a quiet way of saying you are thinking of them. Bentley Florist hand-delivers sympathy arrangements across Burton, Flint, and Genesee County, often within the same day.
Sympathy flowers vs. funeral flowers
The difference is simply where they go. Funeral flowers stand with the service — sprays, wreaths, and casket pieces displayed at the funeral home or church. Sympathy flowers go to the family's home, before the service or in the quieter weeks after. Because they live on a kitchen table or entryway rather than a chapel, sympathy arrangements are usually softer and more homelike: a vase of garden flowers, a peaceful white arrangement, or a living plant the family can keep. If you missed the service or live far away, sympathy flowers are the most natural way to reach out.
When to send them
There is no wrong time. Many people send flowers to the home as soon as they hear the news, so the family feels supported in the very first days. Others wait until after the service, when the house grows quiet and the casseroles stop coming — an arrangement that arrives two or three weeks later often means the most, because it says you are still thinking of them. Anniversaries, birthdays, and holidays in the first year are also tender moments when a small delivery can carry a lot of love.
What to send
Soft, comforting arrangements suit the home best — whites and creams feel peaceful, while gentle pastels feel warm and hopeful. A vase arrangement is easiest for a grieving household because it needs no care beyond fresh water. Living plants like peace lilies are meaningful too, since they last well beyond the week of the service. If you knew the person well, tell us about them — a favorite flower or color woven into the design turns a kind gesture into a personal one. And keep the card simple: honest words and your name are always enough.
How to Choose Well
- Send to the family's home, not the funeral home — that is what makes it a sympathy piece.
- Vase arrangements are kindest — no arranging or care needed on arrival.
- Arriving a few weeks after the service can mean the most.
- A peace lily or other living plant lasts long after cut flowers fade.
- Address the card to the family member you know best.
- Keep the message short and honest — we can help with wording.
Delivery Across Burton, Flint & Genesee County
We deliver sympathy flowers to homes throughout Burton, Flint, and every Genesee County community — same-day for orders placed before 2pm. If you are far away and sending comfort back home to Michigan, order online or call us and we will make sure it arrives gently and on time.
Common Questions
Should sympathy flowers go to the home or the funeral home?
Sympathy flowers go to the family's home; funeral flowers go to the service. If you would rather send a piece to the visitation or funeral, we can help with that too — just tell us the service details when you order.
Is it too late to send flowers after the funeral?
Not at all — flowers sent in the weeks after the service are often the most treasured, because they arrive when the family feels most alone. There is no expiration date on comfort.
What should I write on the card?
Simple and sincere is best: a line like 'With deepest sympathy' or 'Thinking of you all' with your name is always right. If you would like help, our team suggests card wording every day and will make sure it sounds like you.
We Are Here to Help
Tell us who the flowers are for and we will take care of everything else — the design, the card, and a gentle delivery to their door anywhere in Genesee County.
When you are ready
Order sympathy flowers for delivery
Every arrangement is designed and hand-delivered by Bentley Florist — family-owned in Burton since 1963, with same-day delivery across Genesee County for orders placed before 2pm.