10 Beautiful Ways to Memorialize a Loved One
When grieving the loss of a loved one, many people find comfort in creating a physical memorial. Memorials are a lovely way to honor your loved one and feel as though they are still present in your life. Here are 10 ideas for memorializing a loved one.
1. Put together a book of treasured recipes
If your loved one spent a lot of time in the kitchen, creating a book of recipes might be the perfect way to preserve their memory and keep family traditions alive. If you have handwritten recipes that can be included, that will make it even more personal. You might end up creating a treasured family heirloom that will be used for generations to come.
2. Plant a memorial garden
Planting a memorial garden to memorialize a loved one is not only a beautiful way to honor them; it can also be therapeutic for you. Choose a peaceful location that you can visit often. Consider things such as your loved one’s favorite scents, colors and flowers to create a garden that will reflect their personality.
3. Fund a scholarship
Did your loved one have a passion for art, music, history or science? No matter what their passion, creating a memorial scholarship in someone’s name is a lovely way to honor their memory. It’s also a great way to give back to your community.
4. Name a star
If you want to remember your loved one as you gaze up at the stars each night, consider naming a star after them. While this practice is mostly unofficial (you do not actually own the star in the legal sense), it’s a sentimental way to immortalize a loved one’s memory. Sites such as Star-Naming.com AdoptAStar.org will provide a certificate with the name of your star in exchange for a small fee.
5. Get involved with their favorite cause
Did your loved one volunteer at a soup kitchen, or have a passion for helping animals at the local shelter? Getting involved with your loved one’s favorite cause or organization will honor their memory as well as carry on the work they started during their lifetime. It is also an option to make a charitable donation in their name.
6. Celebrate their birthday
The birthday of a deceased loved one is often a difficult day, but you can use it as an opportunity to celebrate their memory. You might bake a birthday dessert, have their favorite food for dinner or simply take a moment to reflect on their memory. Celebrating the birthday of a loved one after they have passed can make it feel as they are still part of your life.
7. Create a memorial
Sometimes it helps to have something permanent to memorialize a loved one. A memorial, such as an engraved park bench, is a thoughtful way to keep someone’s memory alive, and can provide a quiet place for peaceful reflection.
8. Run a marathon
Do you prefer to express yourself through action? Running a marathon (or completing another difficult task) in someone’s memory is a powerful way to honor them. It can be inspirational to other family members or friends to see your persistence and dedication to keeping the loved one’s memory alive. Having something like training for a marathon to focus on can also be beneficial when coping with grief.
9. Frame their handwriting
Whether it’s a note, a poem, a birthday card or even a grocery list, framing a piece of paper with your loved one’s handwriting is a beautiful way to memorialize them in your home. It’s a personal touch that you will be able to see and appreciate every day. If you want to take this idea a step further, there many are shops on Etsy that will engrave handwriting onto various items such as jewelry and wallets that you can carry with you always.
10. Get a memorial tattoo
For a permanent reminder of your loved one, tattoos are a deeply personal way to honor their memory. Some people get a tattoo of their loved one’s birth date or date of death. Others will get a tattoo with their handwriting or favorite flower. It is even possible to incorporate your loved one’s ashes into the ink of your tattoo. Choose whatever will be most meaningful for you.
Because everyone experiences grief differently, there is no right or wrong way to honor your loved one’s memory. If you are grieving and need support, Bevis Funeral Home is here for you. Our online counseling services, group grief support and interactive videos are available anytime, 24/7. Click here to learn more and access free grief support services.
