When a loved one dies, they will always be in your memory. However, even though you will never forget them, you might want to look for ways to keep them in your memory. This gives you the opportunity to spend some time remembering them and what you love about them, whether it’s for a couple of minutes each day or for longer on special occasions. There are many ways to remember someone who has passed, but everyone will have different ways that they like to do it. Your loved one might even have asked you to remember them in a specific way. If you’re looking for a way to remember your loved one, read on to find some ideas.
Plant Something in Their Memory
When someone dies, some people like to think about the new life that will come after them. One of the ways you could symbolize this is by planting something that will continue to grow over the years, such as a tree. It’s even possible to use someone’s ashes to grow a tree or plant. You might have somewhere that you want to plant something, perhaps on your own land. You could also find a service that will allow you to have a tree planted in a public space that you can visit if you want to.
Start a New Tradition
Traditions are important among family, friends and communities for a number of reasons. When someone you love dies, starting a new tradition can be an excellent way to honor their memory. You might celebrate their birthday each year by having their favorite meal, or perhaps meet up with others who loved them to talk about them. Choose a tradition that allows you to remember your loved one in a positive way. It could also provide an opportunity to share your memories with new generations who might not have had the chance to know them very well.
Ideas for Your Loved One’s Ashes
Many people choose cremation for themselves or for their loved ones after death. There are various reasons to choose cremation, from the cost and convenience to personal preference. No matter the reason that cremation is chosen, deciding what to do with the ashes of the deceased is something that many people spend a lot of time doing. There are a lot of things that you could do, depending on what you think the ashes symbolize, among other things.
Some people choose to keep the ashes and even put them on display. An urn could take pride of place on a mantelpiece or another prominent place. You can find funeral cremation urns at great prices for ashes from Memorials.com. Urns can be personalized and designed or shaped to represent something that represents your loved one. If you don’t want to keep the ashes as they are, another option is to turn them into something else. It’s possible to make a gemstone from them or to keep a small amount in a keepsake.
A further possibility is to scatter the ashes. Some people choose to do this because it allows them to give their loved one a send-off in a place that was special to them or in a special way. Your loved one might have expressed their wish to have their ashes scattered somewhere in particular. Or maybe you remember that they had a favorite place, where it might be appropriate to scatter their ashes.
Visit a Special Place with Significance
Visiting a particular location can often evoke memories of someone you love. It might remind you of special times you had there together, or perhaps stories that your loved one told you about the place. If there is a certain place that has significance to your loved one and maybe to you too, visiting it could be a good way to remember them. You might plan a visit on a regular basis, whether it’s each year, month, or even more often. Or it might be somewhere that you go whenever you feel like it if that’s a possibility.
Keep Them With You
It’s possible to keep your loved one close to you in a few different ways. Some people like to have their loved one kept close to their heart in some way so that they have a physical reminder of them. You could do this with a photograph, which you could keep in your wallet, on your phone or even in a locket. Another option is to keep a lock of hair or a piece of jewelry with either a small amount of your loved one’s ashes inside or a gem made from their ashes. You could also wear a piece of jewelry or a watch that belonged to them, or even make something from an item of clothing that they owned.
Support a Cause Close to Their Heart
Many people have an issue or cause that they are passionate about. It could be anything from animal welfare or the environment to women’s health or cancer research. Whatever the cause is, supporting it in their memory is an excellent idea. You can choose a cause that they supported and that you support too, and commit to doing something good. You might simply make a donation to a charity each year. You could also arrange a fundraising event or do something in their memory that helps to raise funds or awareness. Not only does it help you to remember them, but it means you’re doing something kind too.
Share Your Memories
Sharing your memories of your loved one with others is another excellent way to remember them. Sometimes it’s nice to enjoy your memories on your own, and there might be some that you want to keep to yourself. However, there are other memories that you might want to share with friends and family, whether they knew your loved one or not. You might want to share memories with children and grandchildren who might not have known them but who can learn about them through your memories. You can tell stories and share photographs, as well as other things that help you to show people who they were.
Dedicate or Name Something
If you want someone’s name to live on after they have gone, you could look into dedicating something to their name or naming something after them. For example, you could dedicate a memorial bench to them, and even add a plaque or engraving with their name and an inscription. Another option is to do something like naming a star after them, but you can do with many services that are available. You can also discover more unusual memorial options that you can dedicate to your loved one, perhaps even going as far as creating a scholarship in their name.
Remember Them at a Special Event
You can often feel the sting of a lost loved one most when you’re celebrating a big life event. When they’re missing from an important day, it can make the event feel a little melancholy, even if it should be happy. However, you can choose some possible ways to remember them and make them part of the day. For example, at a wedding, you might remember the people you have lost by having their photos on the tables or on a special memorial table. You could also mention them in your speech or include them in the program or event schedule.
When you lose a loved one, it’s important to keep them in your memory. You can find ways to do this that suit you and that you think honor them.