Keeping memories of loved ones alive
After someone we love has passed away most of us try to find a way of keeping their memory alive. This can vary from planting a tree to naming a star.
Here are a few of the options that you may want to consider.
IN THE STARS For some, naming a star after the loved one they have lost seems a fitting memorial. There are many star naming websites for you to choose from on the internet. Simply do an internet search for ‘naming a star, UK’.
Most of these specialist websites give you the choice of naming a single star or a star in a constellation.
Once you have named your star, you will usually receive a certificate, star chart and co-ordinates to help you find it in the night’s sky.
BEREAVEMENT BOX Creating a memorial keepsake box is a comforting option for many.
This box can be filled with special memories you shared with your loved one: perhaps a photograph or two, a favourite piece of jewellery, cards and letters...
Memorial boxes are widely available to buy. Amazon, for example, sell a large selection, ranging from ornately decorated boxes to simple wooden chests.
Many specialist websites offering memory boxes also give the option to personalise the box, with a name or special verse, if you’d like.
However, the box itself doesn’t have to be shopbought or expensive, it simply needs to be somewhere for you to keep all the special keepsakes you treasure together in one place.
Open the box whenever you wish and pass it down to your children so that the memories can live on.
RINGS AND THINGS An
item of jewellery can make a fitting keepsake as most pieces can be worn at all times and many people say this helps them feel closer to the one they have lost.
Maybe you’ll choose a piece of jewellery from their own collection that has special memories for you, such as their wedding band, favourite brooch or watch. Perhaps you’d like to buy a new item, such as a pendant in the shape of their initials, or a personalised piece engraved with their name.
If you’re looking for a gift for someone else who is grieving there are a number of websites that sell bereavement jewellery. inspiredgoodbyes.co.uk, for example, offer a ‘Love Lives On Pin’, ‘Love Lives On Necklace’ and ‘Love Lives On Charm’. In addition, they also offer a Memory Book for family and friends to share their stories and memories about a loved one, plus a selection of bereavement cards.
SAYING THANK YOU If
your loved one was helped or supported by a charity or hospice before they passed away, making a financial donation can help you feel like you’re saying thank you and giving something back.
This could be a one-off donation or many offer the option to donate a small monthly amount straight from your bank account.
These donations are usually used to fund valuable research or to help improve services for others who are going through similar experiences to your loved one.
QUIET REFLECTION Many
people who are going through a bereavement say they want somewhere they can sit and reflect about the one they’ve lost and relive some of the memories they made together without being disturbed.
Buying a bench for your garden can be a comforting solution. Memorial benches come in a variety of price ranges, sizes and materials, including wood, metal and stone.