Even if your loved one has passed away, it does not mean that they will completely disappear from your life. There are a lot of things that you can do to ensure that their memory will be kept alive. Honoring a loved one can either be done privately by doing your own rituals or publicly with your friends and family. You can also build a memorial space for them, so others can get to know them as well.
Honoring your loved ones will be up to you. However, you should see to it that their story won’t end on their passing. Below, you can find some of the best ways of honoring your loved one. Even if your loved one is not with you anymore, there are some ideas that can help you in feeling close to them and at the same time, honor their memory.
Mourn For Them
Facing the death of a loved one during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic can be hard. The ways of mourning have significantly changed. Since there is some fear of spreading the virus, you won’t be able to participate in any traditional mourning rituals including funerals and memorial services.
However, there are still some things that you can do so you can honor your loved ones such as lighting memorial candles, wearing black to express your sorrow, and observing the traditional days of mourning, depending on your beliefs.
Attending The Wake
It is the tradition of the Catholics to have a wake to honor a loved one who has passed. This is done by keeping a vigil before the burial takes place. Prayers will be recited for the dead and condolences and words of comfort will be offered to the family of the deceased.
For some people who could not attend the traditional vigil, they will simply visit the wake at the funeral chapel. Usually, visitation is done one or two days before the deceased is buried. This can allow family and friends to pay their last respect.
Participate In the Funeral Procession
Funeral processions are done differently in different parts of the world. This is considered a significant part of paying your final respect to your loved one. You will be taking your last journey with your loved ones as they are laid down in their final resting place. Funeral processions are traditionally done by foot, wherein the casket is carried from the chapel to the burial grounds. Today, mourners will ride their vehicles and follow the funeral procession towards the place of internment.
In case your loved one was cremated, then there are other ways of remembering them. For instance, a memorial service with a customized urn or a scattering ceremony held in a special place.
Donate to Their Favorite Cause
If there is a particular cause that your loved one is supporting, then be sure to give donations to this cause and put them in their name. In this way, the things that they care about the most will still receive some funding even if they are gone. In case you only have limited funds, then, instead of money, you can try donating your time. You can volunteer at a place that is close to the heart of your loved one. This can help in bringing you closer to them.
Do Their Favorite Things
Even if they have passed away, you can learn more about your loved ones by experiencing some of their favorite activities. For instance, you could read their favorite books, watch their favorite movies and TV shows, do their staple meals, or listen to their favorite music. Even if these are just little things, they can provide you with a deeper sense of who they really are. Furthermore, this can help you in feeling closer to them.
Build A Memorial
Memorials can come in different varieties. You can do some simple things such as gathering their favorite plants and flowers in a garden or making a plaque on a bench. Planting a tree in a memorial forest is also a great idea. Place a memorial marker or a plaque with their name on it. So, every time someone passes by, they will admire what you’ve done. Perhaps they will pause for a while and think about your loved one.
Continue Their Unfinished Projects
If your loved ones have some things that are left undone, then you can complete this for them. For instance, it could be an unfinished painting, an incomplete restoration of a piece of furniture, or maybe an unfinished song that they were writing. You can easily get tempted in leaving these projects to wither, however, you should consider completing them.
When completing their unfinished work, you could do the work yourself or hire somebody to do the work for you. While the work was started by your loved one, you are the one finishing it. This means that both of you are working on it together.
Put Up a Scholarship or A Grant
If you have some funds, then it would be a great idea to put up a scholarship or a grant that focuses on something that your loved one was enthusiastic about. By funding an education for someone who deserves it, you can help in passing on the skills that were significant to your loved ones. Consequently, it is also a way of passing on their passion to somebody who does not have any means of learning this skill.
Light A Candle
If you know the favorite color or scent of your loved one, then you can make or buy a candle that they would truly enjoy. To honor their memories, you can light this candle on special occasions that are meaningful to them. Every time you light the candle, think about them or you can also say some prayers if you feel like doing so.
Keep Some of Their Things Nearby
You can feel close to your loved one who has passed away by holding things that are theirs. It could be any item such as a piece of jewelry, clothing, or anything similar. As much as possible try to keep these things as they were when you received them. Another option would be to transform them into something that you can use or wear. For instance, you can create a necklace from a ring, or you can combine a flannel shirt into a quilt.
Create A Celebration of Their Life
Keep in mind that there are other people who care about your loved one. With shared affection, it can help you in remembering your loved ones together. You can choose to start small by putting up a social media account or a memorial website dedicated to your loved one. In this way, family, friends, and acquaintances will be able to share their thoughts and stories about your loved one.
Another great idea would be to choose a particular day each year and gather these people so all of you can celebrate the person who has passed. You could organize a hike and dedicate a moment of silence on their favorite trail. Or you can visit their favorite restaurant and toast to them.
Create A Photo Wreath
Remembering your loved ones who passed during the holidays can be hard since this is the time for family gatherings and celebrations. Undoubtedly, you can feel the emptiness left behind by your loved one, most especially during the holidays.
What you can do is prepare ahead. You can consider purchasing gifts of remembrance that you can give to your family and friends such as crystal ornaments or memorial glass that commemorates the death of your loved one.
Another great idea is to put up a photo wreath together with your family. You can do this around a fireplace or a tree. Your photo wreath will include your favorite pictures of your loved one. You can make this a yearly tradition wherein you will gather the family together during the holidays.
Live Your Life
Losing someone can be difficult. Sometimes you feel that nothing will ever be the same again. You have to remember that the person who passed would want you to live your life. As time passes by, your wound will start to heal. But sometimes you ask yourself, “how can I go on?”
It’s fine, sometimes grief will take some time to process. You just need to move forward with your life. Keep in mind that your loved one wants you should feel happy again. They want you to feel joy, accomplish your goals, and make the most of your life.
When considering how to honor your loved one who has passed, you should not linger on the emptiness that they left behind. Rather, the best thing that you can do is to celebrate what they did and who they were and as much as possible try to carry on their spirit. You will discover that in this way, they will always be with you.
Personal Touch Printing offers printing plaques and other memorial items for your loved ones. If you are looking for photo printing and DVD creation in the Bakersfield area, then you can contact us at 661-809-4807 or send us a message at personaltp.williams@gmail.com.
Recent Comments