One of the hardest things to think about when organising a loved one’s funeral is how to choose an appropriate memorial to them; something that will help people to remember them in a way that will stand the test of time.
Many people take the time to hand out funeral keepsakes after the service as a way to ensure the memory of the person who has passed remains in minds and hearts for the longest possible time. But would this be appropriate and suitable for your loved one and what kind of keepsakes would be right?
Consider your loved one’s wishes
When you are mourning the loss of a loved one it can be difficult to take into account what everyone – family and friends – would like to do. But, the most important person to think about is the loved one themselves. What would they think of funeral keepsakes if you could go back and ask them? What kind of memorial would they wish for? Keepsakes can be a way to comfort and help those left behind to commemorate the memory of that person in a way that is most befitting.
What kind of keepsakes?
Some people hand out small gifts or photo-biographies of the person who has passed. Others may wish to collect donations for the loved one’s favourite charity or plant a tree in their memory. But if you could choose something to ensure a long-lasting memorial to your loved one wouldn’t you want something that will be a permanent reminder of them, something which has a special resonance for everyone.
An increasingly popular, and rather beautiful and poignant trend is to provide everyone attending the funeral with funeral seeds. These are given out at the end of the service with advice on how, when and where to plant them and are often forget-me-not seeds. These beautiful, tiny blue flowers provide a welcome cheerful sight in the springtime garden and will often come back year after year to perpetuate the memory of a lost loved one. Handed out in a personalised envelope which can show a favourite picture or poem of the loved one, funeral seeds are the ideal way to make a lasting tribute.
Whilst the funeral itself can provide an uplifting and special way for mourners to celebrate the life of a lost loved one, a funeral keepsake can add that special touch to help keep a happy memory of a loved one.
