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Unique Ways to Honor a Deceased Loved One
When a loved one passes, there are certain things the family is expected to do in the following days. Depending on their culture, those things might include a viewing, a funeral, a celebration of life, or a service in a cemetery. And while all those things are good and appropriate, they may not feel as unique as the loved one's personality. To help plan a more tailored tribute that can be done in addition to, or instead of, the more traditional activities, we've put together a list of unique ways to honor a deceased loved one.
Creative Ways to Honor Someone Who Has Passed
If your loved one was a musician or a passionate lover of music, honoring their memory with a music-related tribute is a special way to capture their essence. Here are a couple of ideas:
- Press their ashes into a vinyl record album. A company in the UK called And Vinyly will turn your loved one's ashes into a playable record. Each album requires about a teaspoon of ashes, and you can choose to have music, spoken word, or silence as a unique audio tribute. And Vinyly takes orders from around the world, including the US and Canada.
- Have their ashes embedded in a guitar pick. Some creative sellers on Etsy will mix a small portion of cremains with acrylic to create a lasting and functional guitar pick. Whether you keep it in your pocket, in a place of honor, or use it to play, it can be a fitting tribute to your favorite musician.
To honor someone with a sparkly personality or a visual artist, you could choose aesthetically appealing memorials.
- Celebrate their vibrant life with cremation fireworks. Some fireworks manufacturers are getting into the memorial business. They can add a person's ashes to an aerial shell that will deliver explosive beauty across the sky while scattering their ashes for you. Make sure to find a place where this is acceptable before planning to send them off with a bang.
- Add subtle spirit to artistic glass. For a more low-key memorial, honor their memory by having their ashes made into a colorful glass keepsake. Businesses like Mantra Glass Art will add cremains to blown glass to create mesmerizing paperweights, memorial orbs, figurines, and terrarium planters.
Did your person always choose the environmentally friendly option? Here are two planet-helping ways to pay tribute to someone who passed away.
- Give ocean creatures a place to live. If your loved one was at peace on the ocean, had a passion for sea life, loved to dive, or supported ocean conservation efforts, you can honor them by having their ashes made into an underwater memorial reef. Memorial Reefs International will combine their cremains with concrete to create an underwater memorial with a textured surface that will be placed on the bottom of the ocean. Coral polyps will be the first to colonize the reef, and sea life will flourish in and around it. The company will give you GPS coordinates to locate and dive at your reef anytime, and you can add a bronze plaque with their name, dates, and other details to the reef, so it's more easily identifiable.
- Plant a tree in their memory. Add to the greening of the planet by planting a tree yourself or making a donation to one of the many foundations that will plant a tree on your behalf in honor of your loved one. The Arbor Day Foundation is probably the best-known organization that offers this service, but there are others out there. As with any nonprofit, do your research to ensure you're donating to one with a good reputation.
For DIYers or crafty types, homemade memorials can be the way to go. Whether they were creators themselves or they just appreciated a good homespun keepsake, here are a couple of unique ideas.
- Make a time capsule. Also called time memorials, time capsules can hold mementos such as cards and letters, degrees, certificates, trophies, pictures, favorite toys, and more. Typically, you fill a container with items that belonged to your loved one or held significance, close it tight, and set a future date for it to be opened again. The type of container depends on where you will store it. (You'll want something water- and air-tight if it will be outside in the elements.) Then, at the appointed date, reopen it and let the memories flood back to you.
- Quilt a memorial. Whether your loved one had a closet full of favorite flannels or a collection of their favorite band's tour shirts, you can create a memorial quilt from their favorite fabric keepsakes. If a quilt seems too daunting, pillows are simpler and just as comforting. And if you're looking for something more squeezable, a teddy bear makes a great memorial for you or a loved one.
Maybe your loved one spent their life acting in service to others. Here are a few things to do in memory of someone who died so you can continue that legacy.
- Volunteer for their favorite organization. Even if it's just for a few hours, spending time helping their favorite cause can help you feel closer to their spirit and keep their memory alive.
- Give in their honor. Making a monetary contribution to the charity that meant the most to them can help their generosity go further.
- Start a charity to honor their life. If an official organization that serves the cause they held most dear doesn't exist, consider starting one in their honor. It might not be easy, but it could prove worth the effort for everyone involved.
We also have additional ways to honor a loved one who has passed in other Guides articles.
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