Losing a loved one is always hard, but even though grieving is a long process, there are ways you can remember that loved one that can last for many years.

If you shop anywhere, either in person or online, you’ll find tons of ways to keep the memory of a loved one alive for a very long time.

In addition to memorabilia and gifts, there are practical ways to honor that person, and many of them don’t cost a thing. If you’re wondering how to honor someone you love that’s gone, keep reading.

12 Ways to Remember a Loved One

If you want to learn how to remember someone who passed away, take a look at these suggestions:

1.  Get a Memorial Tattoo

It doesn’t have to be anything special or even fancy. A red outline of a heart will do, and then put their name and the date they died in the middle of the heart.

Tattoos that are small in size don’t cost a lot of money, and you can even design your own if you wish. Some people make tattoos out of a loved one’s handwriting, but as long as it’s personal, you’ll enjoy having it.

2. Plant a Tree

The world needs more trees and you can plant a tree nearly anywhere, then buy a plaque to put near the tree that has the name of your loved one on it. That way, every time you drive past the tree, you can smile and think about your loved one. It will also make you feel good that others are driving past it as well.

3.  Get Involved in a Special Cause

If your loved one died from cancer or heart disease, you can volunteer with an organization that works to eliminate that particular disease.

You can do the work in your loved one’s name, and it’ll make you feel better that you’re doing something that may help others avoid the disease and stay healthy. You can do this with any illness, not just heart disease or cancer.

4.  Pick up Your Loved One’s Favorite Hobby

If your loved one loved to crochet or knit, you could start crocheting or knitting yourself. If you don’t know how, go ahead and take a class.

It’ll help you think about your loved one each time you create something, and you’ll feel a little closer to your loved one in the end. Besides, a person can never have too many fun things to do.

5.  Set a Goal to Accomplish in Their Memory

We all want our loved ones to be proud of us even if they are deceased. Set a goal for yourself and work hard to accomplish that goal.

If you do succeed, you’ll feel as though you’ve achieved something special because you’ll know deep inside that that person is proud of you. It’s really a very good feeling that can also ease a little of your pain.

6.  Donate to an Organization

If your loved one was an avid church-goer and was involved in all types of activities there, you could make a donation to that church in their name.

In fact, donating to any of their favorite organizations is a great way to honor a deceased loved one. Make sure that you write a note telling the organization that the donation is being made in that person’s name so they’ll know that they’re honoring them.

7.  Do Some Volunteer Work with Hospice

Hospice organizations are true miracle workers, and whether your loved one used these services or not before they died, it will make you feel good that you are helping other people towards the end of their lives.

If your loved one did use hospice services, volunteering with one of these organizations will make you feel even better about what you’re doing.

8.  Establish a Scholarship in That Person’s Name

There are tons of scholarships you can start in someone’s name. If your loved one was a teen mother, for example, you can establish a scholarship that makes it easier for teen moms to afford to go to college.

All you have to do is think about the struggles that your loved one had to endure — and everyone has them — then base the scholarship on that struggle to make it easier for others to deal with it.

9. Perform Acts of Kindness Regularly

Acts of kindness cost nothing to perform, and if you get the chance, you can often let the other party know that you’re doing this in your loved one’s name. There are hundreds of these acts you can choose from — so many that you can perform one every day and never run out of things to do. It also makes you feel closer to your loved one in the end, which is an added benefit.

10. Participate in a Run or Walk

If your loved one died of a certain illness or disease, you can do a run or walk that is sponsored by an organization that is working for that particular cause. There are hundreds of these races every year, so it’s easy for you to pick one that will help you honor your loved one this way. It can also help you get into a little better shape!

11. Wear Your Loved One’s Favorite Perfume or Cologne

If your loved one had a favorite perfume or cologne, wearing that scent is a great way to honor them. Even if the scent is a little expensive, you can wear it just a few days a week so it’ll last longer.

Most perfume lasts a long time anyway, so the money shouldn’t be an issue. You may even find that it becomes your favorite perfume as well.

12. Dedicate a Certain Item to Your Loved One

Many schools and cities allow you to dedicate a park bench, a brick, and numerous other items to a loved one, where they can be memorialized forever.

Doing this is usually inexpensive but allows you to share that person with the rest of the world. It’s easy and affordable, and if you do your due diligence, you can find tons of items to dedicate.

Why Is This So Important?

Simply put, honoring a loved one helps a lot with the grieving process, which never actually ends for many people.

Each time you do something in memory of your loved one, it can bring them back to life for a little while, allowing you to share them with those around you. It also makes you feel closer to them and gives you ways to honor and memorialize them.

Many of these suggestions are also very inexpensive, so make sure that you shop around before making a final decision.

Conclusion

Memorializing a loved one can be done in tons of ways, which means you can easily choose the way that’s right for you.

It’s also very easy because the better you knew the person, the easier it is to know their likes and interests, making it easier to determine what you can do to honor them. It helps you share this special person with the world and makes you feel good about what you’ve done.

Fortunately, most of these things are easy and don’t require a lot of money, and you can even think up more ways to honor them if you try.