A recent study shows that there were 87,000 more deaths between March and April of 2020 than expected. While some of these deaths resulted from the coronavirus, more than half could be attributed to other causes.
The study also found that in New York City alone the rate of heart disease deaths increased by 398%. Emergency room visits for heart attacks declined by 23% in March, indicating that many of these deaths were a result of people delaying medical treatment.
Unfortunately, losing a loved one is very common. If you’re wondering what things to do in memory of a loved one, keep reading to find out. Honoring them can help you through the grieving process.
1. Do Something Special on Their Birthday
If you’re thinking about how to remember a dead loved one, doing something special on their birthday can be a beautiful way of honoring them. How you celebrate their birthday is up to you, so long as it brings up happy memories about the time you spent together.
You can do an activity your loved one liked and make it a tradition you repeat on every birthday. Whether they liked to hike or paint, do something that was a part of their life. You can also make a meal of their favorite dishes with family and friends or bake a cake and sing them happy birthday.
2. Visit a Place That Held Meaning to Them
Memorializing someone you love who has passed away can be as simple as visiting a place that held special meaning. This can be a great way of feeling close to your loved one and thinking about happier times.
If you’ve lost a partner, visiting the place you first met or where you were married is a great idea. If your loved one liked spending time at the beach, take a drive out to their favorite spot and enjoy a quiet moment in nature in their honor.
3. Keep an Item That Reminds You of Them
If you’re thinking about how to remember a dead relative, one way to keep their memory alive is by keeping an item that reminds you of your loved one. These simple but sentimental items can help you feel like your relative is with you after they’ve passed.
If your loved one gave you a piece of jewelry, wearing it often can help you through the grieving process. Sleeping with a teddy bear your parent gave you as a child can also help you feel closer to them.
4. Put Together a Photo Album
A great project you can work on to help you focus on the good moments is putting together a photo album of your loved one. Taking out the old photo books and creating something new in their memory can feel really great.
You can also make a digital photo album to send to other family and friends so more people can share in the memories that made your loved one so special.
5. Write a Touching Obituary
If you’re making preparations for your loved one’s funeral or memorial service you might be going through the process of preparing an obituary. An obituary is a beautiful way to honor the life your loved one lived while announcing their unfortunate passing to people in the community.
If you’re not sure how to write an obituary there are a few simple steps to follow. You should include basic information like name, age, where your loved one lived, and a photo. You should also include career highlights and some information about what they accomplished in life.
While writing their obituary try to capture your loved one’s essence, what things made them such a special person. It’s a good idea to ask family and friends for some ideas about what should be included in the obituary, ask them to recount some of their favorite memories with your loved one.
6. Talk About Them to Keep Them Alive
They say that as long as others talk about and remember you, you’ll always remain alive. When going through the grieving process it can help to speak about the loved one you’ve lost. This is a great way to help keep their memory alive.
Keep getting together with family and friends and take some time to talk about how you’ve been feeling. Bring out the photo albums you’ve put together and talk about the beautiful memories you shared.
In the quiet moments, talk to the loved one who’s passed away. While they’re no longer with you, it can make you feel better to just express all the things you want to share with them.
Writing can also be a form of therapy for many people. Write a letter to your loved one if this helps you process your feelings.
7. Create a Dedication
If you’re looking for ways to remember a loved one who has died, creating a dedication can be a wonderful way to honor their memory.
Naming a star after a loved one who has passed away is a beautiful gesture to dedicate to their memory. Every time your family gets together and looks into the sky, they’ll know your loved one is always watching over you.
If your relative was a sports fan, a stadium seat named in their honor can be arranged. You can have a bench at their favorite park named after them as well.
The Best Things to Do in Memory of a Loved One
Losing someone important in your life is a heartbreaking process to endure. There are so many beautiful things to do in memory of a loved one and help you through the process of grief.
Creating a special dedication or putting together a photo album of your memories together are just a few of the ways you can keep their spirit alive. Make sure you check out some of the other blogs on our site to learn more.
