Coping with the loss of a loved one is part of the grieving process. If you’ve recently lost someone close to you, you may find yourself struggling with how to move forward after the funeral service has ended. Here are several ways you can honor your loved one’s memory in the months or years to come. 

5 Ways to Honor a Loved One After They’ve Passed

1. Plant Flowers 

Take the time to visit the cemetery and plant flowers regularly to remain connected with your loved one and do some healing in the process. Adding some color will also help encourage others who visit their grave when you’re not around. If your loved one had a favorite flower, try planting this around their headstone to honor their memory. You can also recycle the flowers from the funeral service in the following weeks. 

2. Light a Candle

Like flowers, candles aren’t just for the funeral service. Candle-lighting is one of the most common ways people pay their respects to their loved ones during their grieving process. Designate a candle in your home that you can light every time you’re feeling sad or want to reflect on a warm memory.

3. Complete Their Bucket List

If you were close to the deceased and you know there were tasks they wanted to accomplish or places they wanted to go, you might consider completing their bucket list on their behalf. This will help you feel close to your loved one while making cherished memories with those around you. Sprinkle these activities in over time to help keep their spirit alive. 

4. Celebrate Their Birthday

Birthdays and holidays can be an emotional time if you’ve recently lost someone. However, you can still celebrate their birthday like you would if they were alive. This is an excellent way to make sure they’re not forgotten and that their stories and memories live on as your family continues to grow. 

5. Save Them a Seat at Big Life Events

Saving a seat for loved ones that have passed at events such as weddings, anniversaries, graduations, and baptisms has become a common practice. This way, you can remember that the spirit of your loved one is still with you during those critical life moments. Consider framing an old photograph or creating a nameplate for them so that they can have a front-row seat, no matter the occasion. 

If you’re looking for a funeral home with a compassionate and caring staff, contact Willow Funeral Home, LLC. They are locally owned and operated and have been serving the Willow Springs, MO, community for over a century. They can provide a funeral service that honors the spirit of your loved one, and they offer grief support to help you get through this challenging time as well. Call (417) 469-3141 or visit them online for more information.