Is it improper not to bring a card or gift to a funeral? If i do, do i put a check or cash inside or what?

Yes, it is. I speak from personal experience unfortunately. If you want to give a card, you can mail it to them. However, if you want to give money, most funeral homes provide envelopes for wake attendees to donate to the family. There is usually a small room where refreshments are provided for guests, so bakery is always a good thing to bring. If you really want to give the grieving family something, sending them food is always a great option as well, because they will more than likely have many people hanging around their house while the wake and funeral are taken care of.