Honoring Your Loved One

When a loved one passes away, their memory can live on. Here are some great ways to honor your loved one:

1. Create a memorial

Creating a memorial is not only a great way for you to honor your loved one, but to share their memory with others. Photos from your loved one’s life can be made into a slideshow or video which can then be shared with friends and family. Add your loved one’s favorite song to the slideshow or video as a special tribute. Another great memorial is planting a tree or garden in your loved one’s honor.

2. Make a donation in their name

If you feel it is appropriate, donating to a charity that is dedicated to curing the illness that your loved one suffered from is a great way to honor their memory. You can also donate to a cause or charity that was close to your loved one’s heart. Another option is to donate your time by volunteering for the cause or charity rather than donating money. Whatever you choose to do, contributing to a cause that affected your loved one or that your loved one cared about can help you feel closer to them.

3. Create a grant or scholarship

If you have the funds, you can create a grant or scholarship related to an area your loved one was passionate about. The skills or education your loved one had can be shared with others who may not have the means to learn these skills otherwise.

4. Complete their unfinished projects

Your loved one may have been working on a project at the time of their passing. Whether it was an art project, a work of writing, piece woodwork, a song, an unfinished quilt, or something else, a great way to honor them is to finish the work. You can finish it yourself or hire a professional to complete the project.

5. Keep a memento or keepsake

Keep something that belonged to your loved one. You could keep items such as jewelry, clothing, books, or really anything that meant something to your loved one. You can keep the item in the way your loved one had it or turn it into something else. For example, you could turn shirts into quilts or a wedding ring into a necklace.

6. Write a tribute book

When your loved one passes away, you don’t have to lose their memories and stories. A great way to honor your loved one is to write a tribute book. At Raconteur, we interview those who knew your loved one best and produce a beautiful hardcover book to celebrate their life.