Losing a loved one is difficult, and sometimes one may find that the small things may be just as distressing as the initial loss: the loss of someone on the other end of the phone, the loss of a friendly face to meet with at the weekend. The loss felt when your loved one is missing from the Christmas table, or their seat at the big game.
It is often helpful for the grieving process to memorialise your loved one. Below are a few ideas on how to do so:
1. Grave / Headstone
The traditional burial or cremation of a body deserves a headstone or plaque. A cremation does not halt a burial place, as ashes can be interred in the ground, leaving a visiting place for relatives to go and remember all the good times. Graves and Headstones come in all shapes and sizes and can be as elaborate (or as classic) as desired.
2. Scattering
Scattering of ashes is also a well-known option, and there are so many options available now for places to scatter. Favourite places may include your garden, your relative’s favourite park (check you have permission from the landowner first) or the ocean. Other, more unusual ideas, include scattering ashes during a skydive, scattering ashes outside a plane, launching ashes into space, or even sending ashes to the Moon!
3. Plant a Tree
Planting a Tree in memory of a person is a lovely idea, especially to see the plant blossom as the years progress. Ashes of your loved one can even be placed in a bio-urn to feed the tree as it grows. Alternatively, bio-pods also exist for those who do not wish to be cremated, allowing the continuation of this beautiful tradition.
4. Travel the world with ashes
You are allowed to travel with human remains, and you may wish to complete your bucket list with your loved one literally with you.
5. Memorial Bench or Plaque
Memorial benches or plaques in a loved one’s name are a great way to remember them, whilst also offering a place to visit for family members. Many charities will offer plaques for long-standing donors to their cause, or following a legacy left in their Will.
6. Portrait / Sculptures
Ashes can be intertwined with different mediums to create various art forms: perhaps you would like the ashes mixed with paint to create a portrait of your loved one, or resin to create a sculpture.
7. Vinyl Record
Following on from the mixing of ashes into mediums, you can even have ashes mixed with the plastic used to create vinyl records – a must for a music lover!
8. Stained Glass
Amongst the other various options, ashes can even be mixed into glass to create a beautiful stained-glass window for your home.
9. Tattoo
Ashes can also be mixed in with tattoo ink to create an everlasting memory of your loved one, to always remain with you. This is a great idea if you only have a small amount of ashes, or perhaps if all the family wish to get a small memorial tattoo.
10. Jewellery
Another common idea is to create diamonds and precious gems with ashes in, to be displayed or worn as jewelry.
11. Reefs
For the sea-loving loved ones, ashes can be mixed with cement to create man-made reefs on which coral will grow and maintain and house marine life.
12. Fireworks
Should your loved one wish to ‘go out with a bang’, ashes can even be placed into fireworks, and shot into the sky for a beautiful display and memorial shindig.
13. Memory Bears
A keepsake memory bear can be made from a loved one’s clothes or from material that is sentimental to you and is a unique way to remember someone special.
14. Yearly Gathering
Family and friends might like to gather once a year to remember your loved one, providing the chance to celebrate the life of your loved one every year.
15. Scrapbook/Memory Box
When your loved one passes, you may find yourself with hundreds of photographs, and be wondering where to put them. A scrapbook or memory box can be the ideal place to store these photographs, and keeping it nearby means you can relive the memories at any moment that suits you.
As you can see, there are various ways to remember a loved one. If you’ve recently lost someone and need advice on the next steps to take, please do not hesitate to Contact Us.
Whilst all the above are lovely options, if you want something more unique, the idea of Mike Tolkien leads the way…
The Story of the Tolkien Brothers
On the 28th January 2015, Mike Tolkien, one of the great grandsons of the famous writer J.R.R Tolkien, passed away. Having grown up on the stories of their great-grandfather, in the years prior to his death, Mike and his brother Royd, set out to use the time they had left to explore the world. After Mike passed, it became apparent he had produced a bucket list of 50 tasks for his brother, Royd Tolkien, to complete.
Having received the bucket list after Mike had died, Royd set out to complete the tasks set by his younger brother. The tasks included various tests, including getting a tattoo and bungee jumping, whilst also challenging Royd to trip over at Mike’s funeral, a task he completed successfully.
The trials and tribulations in completing this bucket list are documented in the book “There’s a Hole in my Bucket: A Journey of Two Brothers”, and after reading, you may find yourself inspired to do something similar.
Memorials in the News
Williams Collins‘ giant memorial in Sheffield built without permission.
