Have you lost a loved one this past year? Or perhaps years have gone by, but grief is still poignant. As you reflect on a relative who has passed on, you might consider new ways to honor them. Ritual is a helpful way to transform a lifetime bond so that your once-vital connection is sustained in a new way.
You might create a new personal or private family ceremony to occur on a day that feels right for you, or make plans to join an existing event during the year. For instance:
- Light a candle. The candle flame is a universal symbol of vigil and honor. Start your own annual candle-lighting ritual. Tell a story, read a letter to your loved one, or just observe a moment of silence.
- Create a sacred space. Assemble a “memory box” of photos and small personal items to open annually. Or create a home altar as a space for reflection in the privacy of your own thoughts. For public honor, arrange to plant a tree or donate a bench to a nearby park.
- Walk, run, or ride for a cure. Gather a team or go by yourself to raise funds for research in your loved one’s name. The Alzheimer’s Memory Walk, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure (breast cancer), and the Diabetes Tour de Cure are among the many disease-specific annual events held nationwide.
- Take up their passion. Learn your relative’s beloved hobby: growing dahlias, bird watching, or playing violin? Host an annual family gathering and serve your loved one’s signature foods. Or play their favorite music and games. Make a yearly contribution to your loved one’s favorite charity or club.
Memorializing a loved one can be a complex experience. Prepare for the possibility of difficult emotions arising. That said, ritual is often also a source of comfort and healing.
We welcome you to celebrate a life or honor a memory with a custom-engraved brick at the Delaware Hospice Center’s Memorial Walkway – a place of quiet reflection and lasting tribute. New bricks are added to the Pathway of Memories in the spring and the fall, and are dedicated at a special event each spring but you are welcome to visit at any time.
As the Delaware, and Delaware and Chester Counties in PA experts in family caregiving, we at Delaware Palliative often see how important it is for individuals and families to find meaningful ways to honor those they have lost. Grief can surface at any stage of life, and there is no single right way to navigate it. If you or a loved one are facing the emotional challenges that often accompany loss, we are here to listen, connect you with resources, and help you find pathways forward. Give us a call at 302-478-5707.
