Grief can make us feel powerless. Honoring the life of a loved one we’ve lost can begin to ease the agony of their death by focusing on who they were and sharing their memory with the world. Commemorating their loss can be a big step in the mourning process.
Here are some memorial ideas to incorporate into your life to honor someone’s memory after death.
1. Have a memorial release with balloons or butterflies
A memorial release of sorts can be healing and a great way to honor the memory of a deceased loved one. Other options are to set flowers in a stream, release sky laterns into the night sky with messages or blow bubbles into the wind.
2. Keep something of theirs with you
Keeping a personal item of sentimental value is a very personal way to remember someone dear. Something that reminds you of you or is something that was dear to them.
3. Frame something they've written, like a poem or a recipe
Consider putting a treasured letter or another handwritten item in a special frame and remember that special someone whenever you pass by it.
4. Create a living reminder
Plant a tree, shrubs, flowers or create an entire memorial or community garden. Memory stones in a garden is also a good idea.
5. Support a cause close to their heart
Living the values that were important to your loved one keeps their legacy alive.Volunteer, support, donate or help raise funds for a good cause or charity. Volunteering is a great way to carry on their memory.
6. Do something they enjoyed or you did together
This way of memorializing someone is a unique way to remember the sound of your loved one’s laugh or the look of their smile while they did something with true joy.
7. Look through old photos with friends and family
Get a group of friends or family together to look through old photos or watch home videos together. You can also make a scrapbook of their life.
8. Complete what they can’t
Finishing something that meant a lot to your loved one is a way to honor their contribution to the world and connect to their sense of purpose.
9. Start a new tradition
Establishing a new tradition can create a new way to remember someone who is missed.
10. Create a memorial online page
Often times, there are far more than a couple of memories to share when it comes to memorializing someone you love. Creating something online allows loved ones to share stories of the deceased from different parts of their lives in a sort of ongoing live guestbook.
Remembering a loved one doesn’t necessarily need to end at the funeral home or memorial service.
Honoring a loved one doesn't have to be an elaborate event. It's an opportunity for you to remember that unique person and celebrate the love you will always have for them. Together, those who loved the deceased can keep their memory alive and celebrate how your life was enriched by knowing them.
