The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
A physical link with a loved one
When someone we love dies, it can leave us with a feeling of emptiness that’s hard to fill.
Lucy Dennis at Cruse Bereavement Support, which partners with Co-op
Funeralcare to help people dealing with grief, explains why having a keepsake – from a photo to a favourite item of clothing – can help ease that sense of loss.
Is it helpful to have a keepsake of a loved one?
Having an object that’s linked to that person can become quite a significant part of your life. You’ve lost that physical manifestation of the person who has died, so you repurpose your love and affection into a physical object that feels part of them.
Can a wearable keepsake help you feel closer?
These are about having somebody close with you always, but in a discreet way. Some people have a small amount of their loved one’s ashes turned into jewellery; you could also have a necklace with a signature or something as
simple as a picture in a locket.
How do you decide on the right one for you?
Until you’re in a situation where someone asks you, “What do you want to do?” you don’t actually realise how many options there are. Therefore it can be really helpful to discuss these with family members or your funeral director.
Could having a keepsake stop you moving on?
When it comes to grieving, you never really move on – instead, your life grows around it. You might wear or look at that keepsake every day for the first year, but after that, then maybe only for special occasions – because
your life has evolved from that raw grief. Whatever keepsake you choose, you could create a memory box or have a memory bear. It just gives you that physical place where your loved one still exists. It’s your piece of comfort and your piece of them that’s there whenever you feel you need it.