Inside: Selecting a Memorial Keepsake for Family: A Gentle Guide. Collaborative post.
When someone we love dies, it’s one of the most difficult things we will ever have to endure. After the funeral and wake, weeks and months will go by and, for many people, a sense of longing will creep in. A search for something to feel like they are still present and close. A family may want something practical, to adorn their home with, or perhaps they might like to wear something with them.
A memorial keepsake can be the answer. By turning their ashes, or a lock of their hair, into something beautiful, or practical, or both, you can bring their essence into your everyday life and keep your special bond with them alive.
How do you choose something meaningful?
If you have reached this point, then you have taken the first step. However, with so many options available for a memorial keepsake, how do you find that special something that seems to have been made just for you?
Consider the following suggestions:
Remember the person
No single memorial keepsake will work for every family, because each and every one of us is different. Instead, consider what was important to the person you are remembering. Their hobbies and interests, their tastes, and how they lived their lives.
Did they have a fondness for the great outdoors, and would a glass sculpture of a favourite scene or memory suit their nature-loving souls? Did they love to adorn themselves with beautiful things? Then a memorial piece of jewellery could be just the thing.
Memorial jewellery
Often, thinking about how a person liked to express themselves in life can help you to find a piece that really sings of their individuality.
Think about how you want the keepsake to feature in your life
Different memorial keepsakes will feature in your life in a variety of ways. Some are smaller and can be carried on the person, others are more like a statue or display and are fixed in one place.
Do you want a keepsake you can wear close to your heart and keep on your person wherever you go?
Is this something you would like in your home, to look at every day?
Is the keepsake just for you, or is this something you want to share with other family members, too?
If you’re considering memorial jewellery, for example, then this can be a beautiful way to carry a special memento of someone with you through your days. Glass art and memory boxes, on the other hand, can become a treasured part of your home and family life.
Take your time to look at different materials and designs
These days, there are numerous options for transforming ashes, hair or other little mementoes into memorial keepsakes. You can find or commission:
- Memorial jewellery, including rings, necklaces or bracelets
- Glass art, such as ornaments, sculptures and other keepsakes
- Memorial fingerprint or handwriting engraved pieces
- Pet memorial keepsakes
Every different material or design will have its own unique features and may have a more classic or contemporary feel.If you are interested in custom memorial jewellery, or glass art, for example, you may wish to take a look at a reputable supplier, such as Ashes With Art. I recently chose an ashes ring and it’s such a comfort to have something so beautiful that keeps them close.
Decide as a family
There is no need to rush or make this decision on your own. After all, everyone is probably feeling sensitive, sad and uncertain right now. Share the experience and your ideas with each other. Children, in particular, may find solace in being given the opportunity to be involved in the selection of a keepsake for themselves or a pet.
Ask family members what they think, and work together to find a keepsake you all feel happy with. Choose matching pieces, if that feels right, or make it a real family heirloom with each family member selecting something that resonates with them.
Don’t be in a rush
There is no need to feel hurried. We don’t say goodbye to our loved ones overnight, so don’t think you have to make a choice about a memorial keepsake in a day, or even a week. If you’re not sure about something, put it to one side and come back to it in a few weeks. You’ll know when you find the right keepsake for you.
In memoriam
Memorial keepsakes can provide a tangible way to hold on to the people we love in our hearts, minds and homes. The right piece of keepsake jewellery or glass art can make us feel close to them every day of our lives. When selecting a memorial keepsake for your family, let your heart guide you.