When someone passes away, there's not actually anything anyone can do to make it okay. This is coming from someone who has firm hope. I know that there is life after this life and I know that I will see the people that I love again. But knowing that doesn't heal now. That doesn't make them not being here feel anymore normal.

Today, someone close to a family friend passed away. We brought our family friend a card, a cookie, and flowers. That doesn't make it better. In fact, when someone close to me died, every act of kindness done to me was a remembrance that he was gone and remembering was when it hurt. A dear friend, well acquainted with this topic said that it's for the giver, that the giver needs to feel like they're helping. I believe that's true.
But I still think it helps. Because you feel loved. Even when flowers in all their prettiness don't fix a single thing, they remind the bereaved that they haven't lost everyone who loves them. So hopefully that makes it a bit better.