Mourning the loss of a loved one is a scary and difficult process, but one that we all must face in time. Choosing how you wish to honor their memory can be just as hard to navigate, however, as you search for a tasteful way to pay tribute to your loved that also speaks to who they were as an individual. A memorial should be a celebration of your dearly departed’s life, and to help aid you in the selection of an appropriate method of commemoration, we have compiled this list of seven unique ways to honor your loved one’s memory.
1. Name a Star
Since its rise to popularity in 1978, the practice of naming a star has been well known and become a widely used service. Naming a star after your loved one is a long lasting way to immortalize their name and their memory by choosing a star from the heavens, having it christened in the name of the recently passed, and receiving a certificate and a star chart to help you locate your loved one’s eternal place in the sky.
2. A Memorial Quilt
If you prefer to have an earthbound memorial, a common method of commemoration is the creation of a quilt to remember your loved one. Using letters, drawings, photos, old clothes, or anything else of significance that belonged to your departed loved one, you can stitch these items together to form a patchwork of memories. Whether you’d like to store your creation in a safe place or if you’d like to keep the blanket close at hand to keep yourself wrapped in its embrace, a memorial quilt will keep your loved one’s presence alive.
3. Plant a Tree
Nothing ties your loved one’s memory to the earth more than planting a tree in their honor to grow strong and tall over decades, and this connection can be further strengthened by turning their ashes into a biodegradable burial pod that will eventually sprout into a tree. The recently deceased’s ashes provide the nutrients needed for the tree to thrive, and it lets your loved one contribute to the creation of life here on earth even after their death.
4. Keep a Memento
While some may find it difficult to keep the belongings of those recently lost around the house, many find it comforting and helpful to their grief to have a keepsake. An old locket or a wristwatch are easy items to keep with you, but many find solace in repurposing family heirlooms into other wearable items like necklaces, charm bracelets, or earrings.
5. Enshrine Their Memory
A more traditional method of commemoration is the creation of a shrine or memorial to honor the memory of the recently departed. Though usually done with photographs or hand-written notes, others have used engraved stones and wood carved with quotes and condolences to honor the memory of their loved one. Erecting these shrines in places of significance will maintain your loved one’s connection to places that were once, and still remain, special to them.
6. Hold a Memorial Day
Many find the overwhelming loneliness that comes with loss to be too much to handle alone, and one way to help manage that grief and simultaneously celebrate the life of the one you’ve lost is to have an assigned day of memorial. Choose a single occasion of importance or a recurring day of observance and invite cherished friends and relatives to share in happy memories of your loved one.
7. Have a Release Ceremony
To symbolically let go of the soul or memory of your beloved, many choose to have a release ceremony. You may set lanterns and balloons loose to float freely skyward or else release doves and butterflies to fly away, but many find comfort in the act of releasing such things and, in the process, releasing their grief.
These are just a small sampling of commencement options. No matter how you choose to honor those you’ve lost, remembering their spirit is a way to provide you with closure and to lay your loved one to rest with respect and dignity.
