The pain caused by losing a loved one can be really excruciating and very difficult to handle. Dealing with the fact that one will never see or touch the deceased again can be challenging. For some people, there is a need to completely erase the thoughts of the deceased, while others prefer not only to celebrate the deceased’s life but also to preserve their memory in whatever way they can. Other than the very popular preservation methods, which include saving the ashes of the deceased in an urn or a place with a nice columbarium design, there are several other ways those left behind can hold on to the memory of a loved one. Some of the other ways include:
Planting A Tree in Their Memory: If by chance, the deceased enjoyed the outdoors, a tree might be planted in his or her memory. The growth and life of the tree will symbolize the life of the deceased. Also, the individual in mourning can simply sit under the shade of the tree to feel closer to the deceased.
Tattoo: It is not unheard of to have tattoos dedicated to a person. In addition to drawing the deceased’s face or anything of significance to the deceased on one’s body, one may also cremate the remains of the dead and use it as the ink for the tattoo. This way, not only is the tattoo dedicated to the deceased, but it is actually drawn with the deceased.
Keeping Some Memorabilia: When a person dies, his or her things are cleared, and properties are sold out. However, the loved one of the deceased may save a thing or two as a reminder. Usually, it is always an important piece of material, such as jewelry or even artworks. The sight of such materials will always bring back memories of the deceased.
Turning Funeral Flowers to Jewelry: While this might seem a bit strange, it can be done. Ideally, attendees of a funeral ceremony often bring flowers as a sign of respect to the dead, and these funeral flowers can be transformed into jewelry through upcycling. Owning a piece of jewelry with that kind of history is definitely something that can’t be easily forgotten.
Keeping A Memory Bear: For lovers of teddy bears, they can make personalized teddy from the clothes of the deceased. Basically, the stuffing of the bears will consist of cloth that has been worn by the deceased. This is quite special and creates a sense of the presence of the dead for those left behind.
Donations: Charity is one of the essential social practices in the world. Donating money or materials in the name of the deceased can be very honoring. Doing this will help spread good thoughts about the deceased, and those who benefit from the donations would feel a long-lasting sense of gratitude to the deceased hence keeping their memory forever. Some may even start a foundation in honor of the deceased, while some may even dedicate buildings to them.
Keeping Cards About Them Around the House: During a person’s lifetime, he or she may have gifted his or her loved ones personalized cards on different occasions. For those loved ones who are fond of saving these cards, they may choose to keep them in strategic points as a reminder of what used to be.
Naming A Child After Them: While some christen their kids names for their meanings, others do for history or the people who bore the name in the past. A popular instance is of kids named after their dead grandmother. This is usually done to honor the memory of the grandmother.
Celebrating Birthdays: Birthdays are for the living to celebrate, making it to another year, but for some people, it could be for the dead. Loved ones of the deceased may choose to always celebrate the day of birth of the deceased as a way to celebrate their existence. Considering some people feel the dead can actually see what the living are doing, celebrating a birthday is seen as a way to show the dead that they are loved even in their death.
There is a lot of regard for memory shared with the dead as a sign of love and respect. Oftentimes, people who have recently lost a loved one are prompted to ask themselves what the deceased would want them to do before proceeding with anything. These thoughts help them process their grief as they move from the stage of sadness to accepting the situation. The need to do something to acknowledge the life of the deceased always goes a long way in this.
