Guest post provided by Amy Collett of Bizwell.org. It is used with permission.
Five Ways Families Can Honor Their Loved One
Losing a loved one is one of the most difficult times in our lives. As you work through your grief and pain, you may wonder how to honor your loved one. Below are five ways your family can honor their memory meaningfully.
Hold a Memorial Service at Home
Some families hold viewings and funerals at funeral homes and cemeteries to give friends, extended family, and others the opportunity to grieve, extend their condolences, and get closure. While these rituals are usually how most families go through the grieving process, other families may have certain wishes and request for more time before they can say goodbye. When this happens, families may opt to hold memorial services instead.
Home memorial services give close family and friends the chance to come together and mourn the loss of a loved one in a more relaxed way, as mentioned in by Redfin. Rather than standing in an unfamiliar, uncomfortable funeral home, the family gathers in the comfort of someone’s home and shares memories of their departed loved one. You may opt to have your religious leader attend and speak, or you may keep the home memorial service private and for close friends and family members only.
Your family also may choose to make the home memorial service as casual as you desire. Some families wait until the initial grief passes and then plan the service after a few weeks or months. At this stage, many people are ready to tell stories, laugh, and enjoy spending the day together in honor of the lost loved one. Some make the person’s favorite food, serve their favorite dessert, or play their favorite games. Work together as a family to plan the day around the memory of your loved one to make it as special as possible.
Plant a Memorial Tree
Families often look for ways to cherish the memory of their loved one, and one way to do so is by planting a memorial tree. You may each plant a tree in your yards, or you may plant one in the departed’s favorite location on family land.
An alternative to planting your own memorial tree is donating to the Arbor Day Foundation to honor your loved one with a tree planted in one of our nation’s forests in their name. You will receive a card acknowledging your donation that includes details about the number of trees planted, registered, and their locations.
Create a Memorial Garden
If your loved one loved the outdoors, honor them with a memorial garden. You may choose to create a garden in your backyard or work with the community to plant in a space for more people to enjoy, with the thought of spreading the love of your loved one to others. Many people choose to fill the garden with plants that were favorites of the deceased or that feature their favorite colors.
When planting your memorial garden, you may want to consider adding a bench for quiet reflection. You may find yourself visiting often to remember your loved one. Working in the garden is therapeutic for family members who want to work through their grief productively. In fact, Psychology Today shares research showing gardening boosts mental health and promotes healing.
Start a Nonprofit
If your loved one had a passion for a certain cause, be it helping the homeless or volunteering at a local animal shelter, and you have a drive for nonprofit work, you could always start a nonprofit in their honor. Naturally, starting a nonprofit isn’t something you should do lightly; it’s as involved as starting a business, if not more so when you want to make a difference. So, ensure you have a plan in place, and speak to those in your community who have started their own nonprofits if you need guidance.
Just remember that there is a fair amount of paperwork involved when starting a nonprofit, and you’ll need to make sure everything is filed correctly. Companies like Zenbusiness can help you fill out and file the necessary paperwork to get your nonprofit off the ground. That way, instead of stressing over documents, you can begin to focus on the nonprofit itself.
Volunteer at a Charity in Their Name
Honoring your loved one does not end after their funeral or memorial service. You can continue to honor them on the anniversary of their death by volunteering at a charity in their name. You can choose a charity that holds special meaning for them, or you can give back to your community in their name by helping at a homeless shelter, food bank, pet shelter, or non-profit organization. Tell stories about them while you volunteer and lift your own spirits while helping others.
Cherishing Your Loved One’s Memory
Cherish the memories you have with your loved one. Hopefully, it gets easier the more time you spend honoring your loved one’s memory.
Living Through Grief After 60 strives to provide helpful articles and information for those over 60 (or younger) who are experiencing loss. Visit this page for more blog posts.
