Loved ones are gone but never forgotten
More and more, when we say farewell to our loved ones we want a way to remember them.
Often at funerals nowadays people release balloons to commemorate the passing of their loved one. This can be a good way for children to learn about the grief process.
For many years families have installed benches in cemeteries or a special place where their loved one liked to sit and take in a pleasant view.
There are other ways to remember them too.
You cold turn their favourite piece of clothing into a teddy bear.
If the person in your life was known for their colourful ties or perhaps for a signature colour, then how about remembering them in the form of a teddy bear?
Memory bears are designed as keepsakes and are crafted from the material you provide from clothing that belonged to your loved one.
Alternatively the clothing could also be transformed into a cushion cover or a lap quilt, depending on how you would best like to keep their memory alive.
You could name a rose in their memory. Packs are available to purchase from companies where you can buy a gift tin. You will get you some rose seeds, a certificate and the rose’s name will be entered into the International Rose Naming Registry, which is periodically submitted to the British Library.
Why not create a quilt from photos or clothing? Memory quilts are very popular in the USA and are growing in popularity here.
This is a wonderful way to capture dear memories, either by using photographs or clothing worn by the person you have lost.
For the more adventurous of you a memory quilt is something you might consider constructing yourself but, given the levels of intricacy and expertise required, it may be wiser to enlist the help of one of many companies out there who can advise on the best way to put the quilt together.
You could have an annual day of celebration where you all meet to share stories, enjoy a meal and celebrate the life of your loved one.
You could plant a tree to remember a life lived.
A popular way of celebrating a birth is to plant a tree so why not use the same logic to celebrate a loved one’s life after they are gone?
Every year when the tree blossoms you can bring some of the branches into the house, symbolising the celebration of that life.