Are you looking for ways to honor your loved ones in heaven and keep their memory alive? If so, you will be happy to know that there are many ways to show they still hold a special place in our hearts.
We can honor our family and friends by keeping their rituals and traditions alive, taking up their hobby, getting a memorial tattoo, cooking their favorite meal on their birthday, organizing a remembrance party, or planting a garden. The options are limitless, so pick something that resonates with you and that your loved ones.
So, let’s dive in with my top 23 ways to remember our family and friends on the other side.
1. Keep their rituals & traditions alive
One of my favorite ways of honoring my loved ones in spirit is to keep our family traditions going. These remind us of wonderful moments shared in the past and can make us feel a little closer to those we have lost along the way. For some, this could mean spending Thanksgiving together, organizing weekly games night, hiding baby teeth under the pillow for the tooth fairy, taking up a new activity, or doing a family digital detox.
Whatever the tradition or ritual, keep them going so that future generations can enjoy them too.
2. Organise a remembrance party
We all love parties and get-togethers but we rarely throw parties for those we have lost along the way. Yet, this is a great way to connect with friends, and share stories and memories shared. So let’s rejoice and celebrate their lives and acknowledge how they made our world a better place.
3. Get a memorial tattoo
Memorial tattoos are permanent reminders of those we lost along the way. They are also great conversation starters but ultimately they just make us feel a little closer to our departed family and friends.
Some people may choose small discrete tattoos such as a name, a quote or a short message to remember them. While others decide to get larger more visible tattoos such as portraits or symbolic designs for the world to see.
4. Plan a movie night
Did your beloved enjoy watching movies? If so, you definitely need to plan a movie night with friends and family. Pick two or three of their favorite movies and enjoy a night together remembering the good old times. And of course, don’t forget the popcorn, chips, chocolates, and takeout food from their favorite restaurant.
5. Send messages to the afterlife
Celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and holidays by releasing helium balloons or paper lanterns and send heartfelt messages to heaven.
Simply write a letter, a postcard, a poem, or song for that special someone, attach them to balloons or paper lanterns, and then release them. Then just enjoy this magical experience and watch your messages float away into heaven.
6. Buy a memorial piece of jewelry
Losing a member of our family or a close friend is one of life’s greatest challenges. Our life can almost instantly turns upside down, and we can struggle to get back into the swing of things.
In these moments, we often look for a physical reminder of their times here on earth with us. So, keeping a personal item or something of sentimental value is a wonderful way to remember someone we held dear.
Some people choose to buy a memorial piece of jewelry to find comfort. They may choose a custom-made ring, necklaces, pendant, earrings, or cufflinks, and feel that a part of their beloved is always with them.
If you are looking for the perfect memorial piece of jewelry, I highly recommend buying from reputable companies such as Lonnie, Algordanza, Lee Alexander & Co., and Jewelry by Johan.
7. Take up one of their hobbies
Trying out a new hobby can bring us joy, enrich our lives, and get us out of our comfort zone. It keeps our minds busynand is also a great way to meet new people. So, why not pick a hobby in honor of those who have gone before us?
These may include learning to play a sport, a musical instrument, painting, cooking, golfing, kayaking, singing, dancing, or even yoga. Whatever you choose, taking up a new hobby is a wonderful way to honor someone you love deeply.
8. Create a memorial space in your home
No home is complete without a memorial space full of pictures, candles, flowers, gifts, chocolates, drinks, and other personal items. Each space is as unique as the individual, and can be as big or as small as you like, what is important is the intention behind it.
In some traditions, the family of the departed light a candle for each person that we have lost and to recite prayers over them. They believe that this will keep their loved ones safe and allow their soul to rest.
9. Travel to the world in their honour
Honour your loved ones by travelling the world or visiting any countries, or cities still left on their bucket list. . You could plan a trip around the world, visit a local city for the weekend, or book a luxurious cruise to the Caribbean.
Some people chose to sprinkle their loved ones’ ashes along the way. You can release their ashes on mountains, hilltops, at sea, on the beach, at national parks, lakes and creeks, gardens, and sports venues, just to name a few. Whatever you decide, fully immerse yourself in the experience and make them proud.
10. Create memorable keepsakes with their clothes
Create new possessions with your loved ones’ clothes by turning them into a memorable keepsake. Repurpose their clothing and other objects into beautiful pieces of art. Make holiday decorations, stuffed toys, quilts pillowcases, or any other number of things.
These cherished keepsakes can be gifted to family members and friends or added to your memorial space.
11. Create a memory box
Create a memory box to store your favorite photos, gifts, handwritten letters or postcards, and any of their favorite possessions that bring back happy memories. Some people personalize the boxes with wrapping paper, stickers, and ribbons but you could also try painting the box too. A memory box can help uplift and invoke feelings of love when we are feeling down.
12. place a memorial bench
Memorial benches are another popular choice to commiserate a person’s life. Most benches are customizable, you can choose the design, color, location, and a heartfelt message on them. They are usually placed in quiet and peaceful locations such as parks and cemeteries, so that people can reflect on their loved ones’ life and their achievements.
13. Get tickets to their favourite Activity
Book a couple of tickets to experience a day in your loved one’s shoes. Celebrate their birthday with family or friends by picking one of their favorite activities each year. These could include a day out at the theatre, a sporting event, a concert, a comedy show, a casino party, an art exhibition, or a wine-tasting tour.
14. Keep their memory alive
When our family and friends crossover it can be hard to talk about them without falling apart or getting overly emotional. But in time this becomes easier, and we can relive those wonderful moments shared together once again.
Sharing memories, and funny stories, and looking back at old photos of our loved ones is a wonderful way to honour them. Talking about them and sharing cherished moments can reunite the family and help everyone’s heal too.
15. Add an extra plate at the table
Some European countries have the tradition of setting out an extra plate to remember those who have crossed over into the spirit realm. It is a symbolic gesture to honor our loved ones and let them know that they are still important in our lives.
Adding a plate to a table to remember those that have passed isn’t a sad or depressing tradition. We need to acknowledge our feelings and know that we still feel sadness and miss them being around.
16. Visit their favourite location
Visit your loved ones favourite places to feel a little closer to them. You could take a stroll in their local park, have a coffee at their most cherished cafe, or have a meal from their favorite takeout.
Pick the spot that most resonates with you, and feel your family and friends on the other side get a little closer.
17. Cook their favourite meal on their birthday
Birthdays are always challenging as many emotions boil up to the surface on special days such as these. A simple way to honour their memory is to make their favorite dishes and remember the joy it brought them.
And whenever you feel ready make for a full blown celebration, invite close friends and family over for a birthday meal. And as with all birthdays, don’t forget to buy their favorite cakes or puddings.
18. Play their favourite music
Create a playlist with your beloveds favorite songs and those that remind you of them. You can listen to these alone or include them as part of their birthdays, anniversaries, on memorials, or during yearly celebrations. Creating a personalised playlist can make those yearly celebrations even more special
If you have lost someone recently, it may bring up many emotions but it is all because of the love that we felt for them. Overtime these feelings will become less intense and you can fully rejoice hearing and singing to their favourites songs.
19. Write and record your loved ones story
Write about your loved ones’ lives and include details of cherished memories, funny stories, and their travels, and don’t forget to add pictures and include a family tree too. This keepsake journal can become a lasting tribute, preserving your family or friend’s stories and wisdom for future generations to come.
You can find many ready-made journals with prompts and questions online. I highly recommend purchasing a ‘tell me your life story” journal. They have a journal for all family members, mom, dad, sisters, brothers, uncle, aunt, grandma, and grandad.
20. Plant a tree
Many people choose to plant trees to memorialize a loved one either as part of their traditional burial or cremation. They make great sympathy gifts and are a great way to pay tribute to the passing of a family member or a friend. You can decide to plant one or more trees at home or in multiple locations. This gives family and friends living abroad a special place to reconnect with their loved ones.
21. volunteer at a hospice
Taking time out of your schedule to volunteer at a local hospice is extremely rewarding and can give us a sense of purpose after the death of a loved one. You can help patients in their final days of life, feel less scared and alone in their transition.
You can speak to them about their lives, hear fascinating stories, and learn about their family, friends, their accomplishments, and any regrets.
22. Start a blog or podcast to help others
Start a podcast or blog to help heal others heal and overcome the pain of losing a family member or friend. You can share your journey, and tell others what helped you heal and how others can find peace in their lives once again.
Sometimes all we need is to hear someone else’s story to know that what we are going through is normal and that it will get better. By sharing your experience, you could help thousands of people find comfort and help them overcome the pain. The healing process is never easy and it takes time for us to fully recover and heal.
23. Support a cause close to their heart
Did your beloved support or advocate for a special cause? If so, you could consider raising money or making a donation in their memory. This is a great way to leave a lasting legacy and find comfort and healing during those difficult moments.
final thoughts
There are many ways in which we can honor our loved ones in spirit. We honor them by remembering them, speaking about them, telling their story, and living life to the fullest.
Our family and friends want the best for us and just want us to be happy and reach our full potential. And if they decide to visit, remember to thank them and feel the love with them.
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed this post and that it was useful.
Let me know all the ways you have honored your loved ones in heaven.
Leave a message in the comment box below, I love reading your messages.
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.