Losing a loved one is never easy, even if you’ve known it was coming for months, to say nothing of the shock a sudden death brings. You might also be looking for a more unique way to honor your loved one’s memory besides the traditional methods—after all, a special person deserves a special sendoff. Here are five unique ways to honor a loved one’s passing.
1. Plant a Tree
Trees live for a very long time, with many species having lifespans of hundreds of years. A more recent burial option—biodegradable burial pods—has made it possible to grow a tree from your loved one’s remains. Funeral homes are becoming quite flexible and should be fine with assisting in a more unique type of burial. Alternatively, you could simply plant a tree, enact an in memoriam plaque and bury your loved one in some other fashion. Consider contacting a funeral home like Caring Funerals for more ideas and possibilities.
2. Give in Their Name
Instead of bringing or sending flowers to a memorial service, it might be more pertinent to ask for donations in your loved one’s name to an organization or cause they supported in life. If family or friends pool together to make a bigger donation, you might even be able to purchase a bigger, more permanent structure to honor your loved one, such as a room or memorial garden.
3. Get Involved
Turn your grief into anger by fighting against whatever killed your loved one, if applicable. For example, if you lost your father to cancer or your nephew to a drunk driver, you can create a memorial foundation, lobby for legislation or simply lend your support to existing organizations that work to prevent these deaths and raise awareness.
4. Create a Piece of Art
There are artists willing to take commissions and make custom beautiful glass art made of your loved one’s ashes. This art can be displayed in your home as a tribute to your loved one, perhaps beside a photo or photo montage of them. If that creeps you out a little, you could always commission more traditional art to be made in your loved one’s name, such as a portrait painting or an abstract sculpture.
5. Keep Something of Theirs
It’s more traditional to wear your mother’s jewelry or keep your grandfather’s knickknacks, but there are other, more unique options as well. For example, you can make quilts with printed photos on them of your loved one or out of pieces of their clothing.
Choosing how to honor a departed loved one is a very personal decision, whether you decide to do something more outside-the-box or traditional. But for a unique, special person in your life, consider honoring them in a way that’s equally unique and special.
