It is often considered to be the time to say goodbye to a loved one: at their funeral.
However, for many people who have lost someone, the shock of the loss is still raw, and it is often reported that someone who is attending a funeral may still be in the emotional upheaval that the death has caused.
Indeed, the reality of the loss often doesn’t hit home for many months, by which time the funeral has passed, and many people have started to move on. This can leave a sense of something being left unsaid or unfelt, which can make grief and memorials all the more important.
A memorial should be as unique as the person who has passed, and so, here are some interesting ideas to help you keep your loved one’s memory alive.
1. Living Memorial
Living memorials are big right now, likely pushed by their eco-friendly nature. When it comes to saying goodbye, it can be ideal to plant a flower that your loved one adored, plant a garden for them, or even to plant a memorial forest if they were a fan of the great outdoors. This adds a sense of continuity, and of course, if your loved one was a gardener or a wildlife lover, this adds another level to this memorial idea.
2. Necklace
Memorial jewelry is not a new idea. Even Queen Victoria of England wore a sapphire brooch given to her by Prince Albert until the day she passed away.
Of course, a piece of memorial jewelry does not have to be given to you by a loved one for it to symbolize them. You could buy a necklace of your loved one’s favorite animal, or a piece that symbolizes a hobby that they had. If your loved one was cremated, you can get ash necklaces, which will allow you to carry their ashes in a small, stylish container.
3. Diamonds
There is also the option to turn the ashes of your loved one into diamonds. This is a relatively new technology, which is offered by some crematoriums as well as memorial companies. In simple terms, the ashes of your loved one are compressed into a one-of-a-kind diamond that you can keep as is, or you can have it placed into a necklace, a ring, or any other piece of jewelry you desire. This can help you to keep your loved one close while also being subtle enough to wear every day.
4. Digital Timeline
Few people in the modern day have family in one place. Thus, families and friends tend to be spread around the globe, which can make it all the more important to set up a digital timeline or album. For this, you can use old photos of your loved one and upload them in order, from their birth, through their life, until their final days. This also allows others that you share it with online to add their photos and memories, which can help with the grief and allow a place for everyone to visit when they are missing them.