When a loved one dies, many of us want to honor their life with some kind of memorial. There are so many different ways to do this from traditional options like headstones to more modern options like memorial webpages. This post looks into 12 different ways to commemorate a loved one.

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Headstones

If your loved one is having a burial or you’re planning to put their ashes in the ground, you’ll likely need to look into headstones. You can find a wide selection of headstones and urns from Memorials.com including bronze headstones, granite headstones, statues and memorial rocks. Consider personalizing the inscription to reflect their life or personality. Some cemeteries will have strict rules as to which headstones are allowed, so look into this beforehand.

Benches

Memorial benches can be placed in a location that was special to your loved one. You will need to get permission from local landowners first – in some public spaces, local councils may be able to provide you with a bench. If you get to choose the style of bench yourself, consider looking into durable materials like teak, wrought iron or recycled plastic (it’s possible to make benches out of recycled plastic bags).

Trees

You could consider honoring a loved one’s memory by planting a tree. This can be a way of creating life out of their death. A tree could be placed directly over their remains or in a location that is special to them. Unless you are planting the tree on land that you own (such as your backyard), remember that you will need to get permission. It is up to you as to which type of tree you choose – you could choose their favorite species of tree, or you could deliberately choose a long-living hardy tree.

Memory boxes

A memory box involves collecting items in a shoebox or crate that tell a story of your loved one. This could include treasures such as photos, letters, ticket stubs, jewelry, drawings or medals. Such items could be personally meaningful to you, or you could allow family and friends to all choose items that are special to them. Keep this box in a cool, dry place to make sure that none of the contents get damaged

Shrines

A shrine can take the form of an altar or a small corner in your home dedicated to your loved one. It could be a chance to display photos and other possessions. If you or they were religious, you could also include religious imagery. Some people also like to place candles around a shrine – these could be real candles or electronic candles (the latter could allow you to keep them lit without them being a fire risk).

Jewelry

Wearing a piece of jewelry dedicated to your loved one could be a way to keep their memory close. This could be a locket containing a photo or a note, an engraved bracelet containing their name or a personalized message, or even a ring or necklace pendant containing some of their hair or ashes. There are even companies that can turn ashes into diamonds, although this can be quite expensive, so make sure you have the budget for it. This

Scrapbooks

Using a scrapbook, you can tell a story of your loved one’s life using words, photos and other keepsakes. This could be a personal scrapbook or a collective scrapbook that your whole family can contribute to. Add dates and annotations to create a timeline and use it to record stories related to your loved one. This scrapbook could be stored somewhere private or in a public place for friends and family to look through and reminisce.

Tattoos

A popular way to honor a deceased loved one is to get a tattoo. This is a tribute that you will carry everywhere – like jewelry, it’s a way of keeping them close, but even more permanent. The tattoo could be a photo of them, their signature or an image or symbol that is related to them. Take your time to consider the placement and design and choose a professional tattooist so that the outcome is high quality.

Webpages

You can also set up a website as a digital memorial. This could contain photos and stories and even musical playlists in honor of your loved one. Friends and family could be encouraged to contribute images or stories to it so that it serves as a collective space for everyone to share their memories. To ensure that the website stays live, look into long-term hosting. Social media pages such as Facebook pages can also be turned into memorial pages.

Obituaries

An obituary is a public notice announcing someone’s death that is traditionally published in a newspaper – however they can also be published on a dedicated website. Obituaries typically contain a small biography outlining that person’s life and achievements. You can write this obituary yourself or work with an obituary writer to get the wording right (there could also be a word count to stick within).

Charities

Another option is to dedicate a fundraiser to a cause that was meaningful to them. This could involve asking friends and family to all contribute a small amount to a cause. Alternatively, you could set up a new charity in their honor and use this to raise funds to a custom cause through various ongoing fundraising events. This charity could be named after your loved one or named after something that they loved.

Annual get-togethers

Gathering friends and family members each year to celebrate your loved one’s life could be a great way to keep their memory alive, while also providing a reason to all catch up. This could be held on their birthday or on the anniversary of their death. During this get-together you can share stories or hold rituals relevant to your loved one’s life (like toasting with their favorite wine). Understand that some years not everyone may be able to meet up and you may sometimes need to be flexible with dates. Meeting up every 10 years may be more realistic for some families who live very far apart.