Permanent Memorialization
After the funeral is over, a permanent memorial can provide family and friends with a dedicated place to continue their journey toward healing. The grieving process doesn't end when the funeral service does. Oftentimes, the services are just the first steps to healing and recovery. It can be hard for the bereaved to return to their regular routines so soon after the services are over, especially given the demands of the modern world and the limits that many employers place on allowed time for grieving.
Creating a lasting tribute can give family and friends a permanent place to visit when they need help feeling connected to the loved one who has passed. A permanent monument serves as a focus for their memory and provides a private space for reflection and peace. It can also serve as a location for family and friends to commemorate important occasions and can help make it easier to cope on meaningful dates like birthdays or anniversaries. As the years pass, a permanent memorial can also become a link to the past for younger generations who may not have had the opportunity to meet the departed loved one during their lifetime.
A Peaceful Resting Place
No matter how you choose to care for your loved one’s physical remains, we pride ourselves on our ability to help you select from a variety of peaceful and picturesque settings for their final resting place. Whether you prefer the calm serenity of a natural park or the stately grandeur of a mausoleum, our experts are here to understand your needs and concerns, answer your questions, and provide you with all of your options and the information you need to make an informed decision about your loved one’s final resting place.
Contact us to connect with our staff, ask questions, or request more information about your options.
Ground Burial
When it comes to a traditional in-ground burial, your family can choose between different estate lots, multiple space lots, or single space graves available at local cemeteries. We’ll walk you through the different burial grounds that exist in our community and assist you in finding an option that fits your needs, budget, and personal preferences.
Cremation Options
There are a variety of ways to care for your loved one’s cremated remains, whether you decide to keep them within your home, spread them in a cherished location, or inter them in a garden, statue, or other memorial property. We have a wide selection of elegant and beautiful urns you can choose from, and we can also provide you with local options for the entombment of your cremation urn. Cremation niches are available within many local mausoleums, as well as in area cremation gardens and inurnment plots.
Unique Memorialization Ideas to Consider
- Complete their unfinished business. You can finish something for your loved one if they died without visiting a specific location, solving a mystery, or researching something significant to them. It can be helpful to memorialize your loved one in a way that is significant to you and your family. Try to learn one thing that your loved one has always wanted to do but hasn't had the opportunity to do, and then do it in their memory.
- Get a local landmark named after your loved one. Speak with local officials about naming a street, bridge, park, or another landmark after your loved one. To mark the event, hold an official naming ceremony. This distinction is usually reserved for persons who have had a significant impact on their town or country, such as veterans, but you may be able to purchase the naming rights. This is a great way to keep their memory alive in your community.
- Create a viral memorial meme. If your loved one was particularly funny or had a catchphrase, you can create a memorial meme in their honor. Spread it around the internet to keep their memory alive. You can also create memorial Facebook groups or pages dedicated to sharing memories of your loved one. This is a great way to keep their memory alive and connect with others who are grieving.
- Make a documentary about their life. Record all of the places your loved one lived, worked, studied, visited, and frequented with your phone or a video camera. You can even interview family and friends about their favorite memories of your loved one. This is a great way to memorialize their life and share it with future generations. You can also create a website dedicated to their memory. Include photos, videos, articles, and anything else you think would be meaningful to people who want to remember your loved one. You can also use this website to keep everyone updated on memorial events and services.
- Plant a tree in their honor. Another great way to memorialize your loved one is by planting a tree or flowers in their memory. You can visit the memorial every year to pay your respects and reflect on fond memories. This is also a great way to teach children about the cycle of life and the importance of honoring those who have passed away.
- Establish a scholarship in the name of a loved one. If your loved one was passionate about education, you can memorialize them by establishing a scholarship in their name. This will help future generations keep your loved one's memory alive for years to come. You can also donate to an existing scholarship fund in their name or set up a memorial fund at their alma mater.
- Be artistic with their permanent memorials. You can get memorial tattoos, sculptures, or paintings made in their honor. These are all ways to keep your loved ones close to you, celebrate life, and display your love for them in a public way. You could even write a song and have a professional do the arrangement for you.
- Create a coat of arms. Every family had a coat of arms in the "olden days" to indicate what they stood for. To do the same, create a modern coat of arms art piece in commemoration of a loved one. Make a 3D artwork on a canvas using their favorite colors, characters, animals, sports, and other items. Paint the items and arrange them in the shape of a classic coat of arms on the canvas.
- Make a bench with a plaque of your loved one's name. This is a popular memorial for people who loved spending time outdoors. You can buy or make a bench and put it in your backyard, local park, or any other place that was special to them. Make sure to get a plaque with their name on it so that everyone will know who the bench is in honor of.
- Just for fun, dress up as your loved one during Halloween or on their birthday. One way to keep your loved one's memory alive is to dress up like them on Halloween or on their birthday. This can be a fun and festive way to remember them while also getting into the holiday spirit. Whatever you do, make sure you have a good time and keep their memory alive.
There are many ways to memorialize your loved ones in a permanent and meaningful way. By doing so, you can keep their memory alive while also honoring their life in a special way. These are just a few ideas to get you started. If you need assistance with planning a funeral service, get in touch with Smith & Miller Funeral Home by calling us at 678-901-1234.
