When a loved one passes away, it can feel like your world is crumbling down around you. Often, the grieving process is long, and it takes several months or even years to come to terms with the loss of a close family member or friend.
Although there is nothing that will bring them back, there are lots of different things you can do to keep their memory alive and celebrate all of the amazing things they achieved during their lifetime. Choosing to remember your relative or friend in unique and special ways after their death can provide comfort and calmness for the whole family, and may even speed up the grieving process.
Below, we have listed some of the best things you can do to keep your loved one close to you after they have passed away.
Get a Necklace Containing Their Ashes
If your friend or relative has requested a cremation after death, you are able to retrieve their ashes and keep them. There are lots of different things you can do with a loved one’s ashes, including placing them in an urn or getting jewelry containing some of the ashes themselves.
You can purchase a ring, bracelet, or necklace for ashes to keep your loved one as physically close to you as possible for the rest of your life. You’ll find comfort in knowing that they are right there with you through thick and thin, keeping you safe and watching over you.
Many companies offer hand-made or customized jewelry for ashes, so you can find a design and style that suits you well. Consider getting jewelry in your loved one’s favorite metal or adding their birthstone into the design to make it extra special.
Place Photos of Them Around Your Home
What better way to keep your loved one close than hang photos of their smiling face around your home? Photos are the perfect way to relive happy memories. They can remind you of the incredible person your late relative or friend was and the joy they brought to your life.
Take a look through your photo albums to find the best ones of you and your loved one, and choose your favorites. Alternatively, search your phone to find the digital photos you have of your late relative or friend and get them printed out. You can then place these pictures in frames and find the best places in your home to display them.
Every time you walk into and out of your house, down the corridor, or into a room, you’ll be reminded of your loved one, and it will bring a smile to your face and help you cope with grief.
Cook Their Favorite Recipe
If your lost family member or friend had a particular recipe that they loved cooking or baking, recreate it on your day off. You can enjoy a delicious meal or snack with your family to keep your loved one’s memory alive and continue their traditions long after they have passed.
Consider getting the whole family involved in the kitchen to make an event of it and spend the day reminiscing on the best memories you hold with your loved one.
