Joking while Consoling Mourners
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Question
Is there a prohibition against making a joke in a mourner's house in order to comfort the mourners?
Answer
It is forbidden, and if it is necessary for the mental health of the mourner, it is permitted, and it is not the way of consolation to tell him jokes to remove his mourning from his heart. Rather, the essence of consolation is to encourage and cheer him that everything is from the hand of the Almighty, and he will justify the judgment upon him until he rejoices from the encouragement. But not to make him forget that he is mourning and fill him with laughter.
Source
It is forbidden to tell jokes in the house of mourning, as explained in Siman 191, paragraph 1, that it is forbidden for a mourner during the seven days to hold a child in his arms, as it brings him to laughter, and certainly laughter is some smiles, and this is forbidden.
Regarding the way of consolation, as stated in "Mateh Moshe": "One who comes to the house of mourners to console them should say words of reason so that they justify the judgment of their Creator and accept consolation, and not cry and sigh too much."
And as stated by Rambam in "Laws of Mourning", Chapter 5, Halacha 20: "If greeting is forbidden to a mourner, all the more so is it forbidden to engage in much talk and laughter, as it is said: 'Be silent.'"