Editor's Note: After the loss of a loved one many of us want to do something that will be a lasting memory of them. I had a conversation with someone today who told me that he had recently gone with a friend to plant a tree at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Tree Grove at Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area in Los Angeles in memory of a loved one. Our guest blogger Sara Bailey gives us 5 special ways that we can honor the memory of our loved ones.
5 Special Ways to Honor the Memory of Someone You Love
Losing someone you love begins a whirlwind of standard practices and procedures that usually culminates in a wake or memorial service and a funeral/burial. This process works -- and has for hundreds of years -- because it gives everyone who loved the deceased a chance to pay their respects and say goodbye.
But many people wish to memorialize their deceased loved one even more, in a unique and meaningful way, especially if they were very close. Here are some suggestions.
Plan a more personal home memorial service
There is certainly something to be said about holding a public memorial service for your loved one, as it allows people who shared just a cursory relationship with them to pay respects. But there’s also something (more) to be said for a more intimate, home memorial service -- something you should strongly consider. These events tend to be more of a celebration of life, as opposed to a somber acknowledgment of their death.
Raise money for a cause near and dear to them
Was your loved one passionate about something? Animal welfare? Helping the homeless? Veteran care? If so, a great way to pay tribute is to hold a fundraiser for their favorite cause. Fundraisers are pretty simple to organize, and social media make them a breeze to promote. Check out these tips for planning one if you’re new to it.
Plant a memorial garden
The great thing about memorializing your loved one with a garden is that once it’s complete, it gives you a place to go for quiet meditation and remembrance. A garden symbolizes life, death, and everything in between. There are basically no rules when it comes to planting a memorial garden space. It can consist of just about anything you want, but it’s important, of course, to include at least some flowers enjoyed by your deceased loved one. If you choose to hire a professional to plant your memorial garden, just make sure you can afford the expense because landscaping services Los Angeles cost $6,562 on average.
Pro tip: Resist the urge to try to “fertilize” parts of the garden with your loved one’s ashes. Though a sweet idea in theory, in practice it can damage the soil and surrounding plants. Human ashes aren’t very good for the environment.
Flip the script and turn their day of death into a celebration
This may sound strange at first, but there’s no reason that the day we lose a loved one should forever be a day of pain and suffering. Death is merely the completion of a worthwhile and meaningful life, and it should be celebrated as such. You can truly memorialize your loved one by making sure you, your friends, and your family celebrate their life every year. If the death day remains too painful, even after this change in perspective, try holding a celebratory event on their birthday every year.
Finish off their bucket list
Maybe your loved one didn’t have a physical list, but you surely were aware of the things they wanted to do in life that they just didn’t get around to doing for whatever reason. A beautiful gesture would be to complete that bucket list for them. Take a trip to Italy, if that’s what they always wanted to do. If they wanted to learn to do something, take the time and learn to do it in their honor.
Your gestures to memorialize your loved one don’t have to be grandiose. The little things can be just as thoughtful. All that matters is that you find a way to remember them that gives you comfort and joy while staying true to their loves, desires and ethos.
To contact Sara email her at [email protected] Visit her website The Widow Net.
Look for Sara's book, "Hope And Help After Loss", coming soon.
5 Special Ways to Honor the Memory of Someone You Love
Losing someone you love begins a whirlwind of standard practices and procedures that usually culminates in a wake or memorial service and a funeral/burial. This process works -- and has for hundreds of years -- because it gives everyone who loved the deceased a chance to pay their respects and say goodbye.
But many people wish to memorialize their deceased loved one even more, in a unique and meaningful way, especially if they were very close. Here are some suggestions.
Plan a more personal home memorial service
There is certainly something to be said about holding a public memorial service for your loved one, as it allows people who shared just a cursory relationship with them to pay respects. But there’s also something (more) to be said for a more intimate, home memorial service -- something you should strongly consider. These events tend to be more of a celebration of life, as opposed to a somber acknowledgment of their death.
Raise money for a cause near and dear to them
Was your loved one passionate about something? Animal welfare? Helping the homeless? Veteran care? If so, a great way to pay tribute is to hold a fundraiser for their favorite cause. Fundraisers are pretty simple to organize, and social media make them a breeze to promote. Check out these tips for planning one if you’re new to it.
Plant a memorial garden
The great thing about memorializing your loved one with a garden is that once it’s complete, it gives you a place to go for quiet meditation and remembrance. A garden symbolizes life, death, and everything in between. There are basically no rules when it comes to planting a memorial garden space. It can consist of just about anything you want, but it’s important, of course, to include at least some flowers enjoyed by your deceased loved one. If you choose to hire a professional to plant your memorial garden, just make sure you can afford the expense because landscaping services Los Angeles cost $6,562 on average.
Pro tip: Resist the urge to try to “fertilize” parts of the garden with your loved one’s ashes. Though a sweet idea in theory, in practice it can damage the soil and surrounding plants. Human ashes aren’t very good for the environment.
Flip the script and turn their day of death into a celebration
This may sound strange at first, but there’s no reason that the day we lose a loved one should forever be a day of pain and suffering. Death is merely the completion of a worthwhile and meaningful life, and it should be celebrated as such. You can truly memorialize your loved one by making sure you, your friends, and your family celebrate their life every year. If the death day remains too painful, even after this change in perspective, try holding a celebratory event on their birthday every year.
Finish off their bucket list
Maybe your loved one didn’t have a physical list, but you surely were aware of the things they wanted to do in life that they just didn’t get around to doing for whatever reason. A beautiful gesture would be to complete that bucket list for them. Take a trip to Italy, if that’s what they always wanted to do. If they wanted to learn to do something, take the time and learn to do it in their honor.
Your gestures to memorialize your loved one don’t have to be grandiose. The little things can be just as thoughtful. All that matters is that you find a way to remember them that gives you comfort and joy while staying true to their loves, desires and ethos.
To contact Sara email her at [email protected] Visit her website The Widow Net.
Look for Sara's book, "Hope And Help After Loss", coming soon.
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