Memorials have long been used to memorialize the deceased. They are usually permanent fixtures like large headstones or statues however, there are other monuments that are just as special but more affordable. Many people want to set up a monument to their lost loved one after a cemetery service in Matthews, NC, but can’t afford the more traditional structures.

This list of ideas for affordable monuments can help you memorialize your lost loved one while staying on budget. To begin, use your memories. Your memories of your loved one are always with you and are also completely free. Use your memories as a monument to the deceased by telling stories about them to younger generations and by asking friends, family and other loved ones to share their stories as well. Make these memories more permanent by asking people to write them down in a journey or, for more the more tech-savvy, making a video compilation of them telling their memories. What about pictures? Everyone has many pictures of loved ones, so it’s easy to use photographs as a monument when someone you love passes away. Simple framed photos and scrapbooks are equally meaningful and help you remember them.

Or plant a memorial garden. Flowers, trees, bushes, and other living things are always a beautiful reminder that life goes on and there can be beauty in the wake of loss. Plant a memorial garden for your lost loved one at home in your yard or work with your local authorities to plant a garden or even a tree in a public place. You can also write a memorial or repurpose belongings. Even if you’re not a gifted writer, it can still be meaningful to write some kind of memorial for your lost loved one. Try writing a poem, memoir, short story, or even just an essay about how you feel about their life and loss. You can repurpose almost any of your lost loved one’s belongings as memorial. For example, you can turn a shirt or blanket, pillow, or stuffed animal.

What about making a mixtape? Music is very powerful and can help us work through difficult emotions. Make a playlist or a mixtape that reminds you of your lost loved one so you can listen whenever you’re thinking about them or you miss them. Don’t forget to share it with family and friends. You can also give to charity. One of the best ways to honor the deceased is to help their good legacy live on through charitable giving. Even a small donation will go a long way towards helping a cause that your lost loved one believed in or cared about. Finally, there’s cremation jewelry. Cremation jewelry takes part of the deceased’s cremains and turns it into jewelry that you can wear or carry with you at all times.

These are just a few of the many ways you can memorialize your lost loved one without spending a large amount of money. Do you want more tips on memorialization or information on Matthews, NC cemeteries? Just give us a call or pay us a visit.

Rituals go a long way towards easing grief after a loss and a cemetery service in Matthews, NC. But how do you perform a ritual? What do they even look like?

A ritual is defined “a repeated pattern of behavior performed at specified times”, and it often includes the use of symbols, rites, and actions.” They offer benefits like creating community, providing space to grieve, giving a sense of control and many, many more. They can also be almost anything. Want some inspiration? Use this list of rituals:

1. Share Memories – Create a memorial website or use the deceased’s social media to share memories of the deceased and have other people share theirs as well. This gives everyone a space to grieve and heal together.
2. Carry on Existing Rituals – Maybe your lost loved one had rituals of their own, from eating in a certain restaurant on a certain day or just regularly watching a TV show. Carry on these rituals to feel connected to the deceased.
3. Start a Grief Journal – Grief journals are so simple and yet so powerful. Creating ritual of writing in your grief journal at a certain time of day or for a certain length of time can go a long way towards providing comfort, familiarity, support and routine in the turbulent time of loss. If you don’t know what to write, try with letters to your lost loved one, what you did that day, or even just how you feel in that day or moment. There is no right or wrong way to journal.
4. Memory Boxes – Gather photos, clothing, and other mementos of the deceased’s life and place them all in a box. You can even include poems, quotes or other writings or art that remind you of your lost loved one. Once made, you can revisit the box at certain times of year.
5. Host Gatherings at the Deceased’s Favorite Place – Whether it’s a park, workplace, restaurant, or dream destination, hosting a gathering at the deceased’s favorite place will help you remember their passions and create familiarity.
6. Plant a Tree or Garden – Living things are comforting, and the act of planting and caring for them is very ritualistic. Every time you water the plant or garden you can remember your lost loved one.
7. Try Meditation – Guided grief meditations are an easy way to jump into a new ritual. There are tons of options on YouTube, Spotify, and other libraries. If you want to try meditating in person, try a local yoga or meditation studio. Meditation can provide calm, peace, and comfort in the weeks following a loss.

There is no right or wrong way to do a ritual or even a right or wrong ritual to try. Do whatever makes you feel supported and grounded in your time of loss.

We are here to help if you want to learn more about grief rituals or Matthews, NC cemeteries. These are just a few of the many, many different rituals you can perform after you lose a loved one. Call or visit us for more information.