As you plan to honor your loved one, you may wonder how to prepare personalized keepsakes to share with the friends who will come to the memorial gathering. You may be facing a lot right now, with the failing health of your loved one or the tragic news of sudden death. Whatever your situation, we sympathize with the loss you are experiencing, and we desire to help make this process as easy for you as possible.
The following ideas and information may help you organize and design the keepsakes in plenty of time before the memorial gathering.
1. What keepsakes do I need to order for the memorial service?
One keepsake many families design and order is a folder or program. A memorial folder is a memory booklet containing one or more pictures of your loved one, a poem or a favorite Scripture passage, a poignant quotation, your loved one’s obituary, and the order of service. Other keepsakes you may consider ordering could be invitations, a personalized bookmark, a prayer card, and thank you notes.
2. When do I design and order memorial keepsakes?
You can design keepsakes before or after your loved one’s passing. Every story is unique: some families have several days to plan for a memorial gathering, while others may only have three days. Thankfully, keepsakes can be designed in stages. And, if you know ahead of time that your loved one is failing in health, you can begin to get organized so that all you will need to add later is the date of passing.
Planning personalized keepsakes can happen with your loved one’s input, if they are feeling up to it, or after your loved one passes. Looking through photos provides a precious time of reflection and healing as you remember happy memories as a family.
3. How do I begin to create a personalized keepsake?
You may feel overwhelmed by several boxes of photos in your closet, and, you may not know where to begin in writing an obituary. However, you do not need to be afraid, as we desire to walk you through the designing process! Thankfully there are several items you can organize beforehand that will help make preparing the keepsakes a much easier process.
Photos
You will want to include at least one favorite photograph of your loved one. If you have trouble choosing from several photos, consider what picture best represents their personality and interests. For example, if your grandpa loved to fish, you may want a picture of him smiling while holding his catch on his boat. Or, if your mom was a quilter, she could be holding one of her beautiful creations in the picture. Some people like to share a recent picture and a picture from their youth or young adulthood. Many couples want to share a picture of themselves from a memorable vacation or a cherished family photo.
Be sure to choose photos that are good quality so they will show up well in the folder. You can scan physical photographs into your computer (as a friend if you need help) and save digital photos in a file folder. Many printing websites, such as Sharishments, will let you upload your pictures and save them for all your projects.
A Poem, Quote, Lyrics, or Bible Verse
You may want to share their favorite quote or something they were known to say frequently. For example, maybe your dad frequently said, “The best things in life aren’t things,” or your daughter’s motto was, “Friends are the best!” In addition, they may have had a favorite poem or Bible verse. Some quickly decide this element, but others may need ideas. One thing to consider whenever reprinting any form of writing is copyright laws. Quotations are acceptable with due attribution; however, when it comes to poems, verses, or song lyrics, you will want to verify if they are public domain. For ideas to express what words personify your loved one, you can check out these links: public domain hymn lyrics, poem ideas, Bible verses, quotes, and prose.
Obituary
An obituary is a brief summation of a person’s birth, life, and death. Many obituaries contain a list of interests, occupation(s), church affiliation, charity work, and hobbies. The cause of death may or may not be mentioned. And at the end of the obituary, there is usually a list of survivors – family members and close friends. In addition, the obituary may include the date, time, and location of the memorial service, as well as designated charities or ministries for memorials in place of flowers.
The average obituary is anywhere between 100 – 500 words. Your loved one may have already written their obituary. If the responsibility falls to you, the best way to begin is to make an essential list of facts before you place words into sentences. The obituary is something you can work on beforehand, so all you will need to add later is the death date (and, if desired, location and cause of death).
Bookmarks, Prayer Cards, and Thank You Notes
Many printing businesses, brick and mortar or online, have several designs from which you can choose. You will probably find a theme or design that reminds you of your loved one. We here at Sharishments want to provide an array of options that can be printed with exceptional quality and be sent to you in good time before your scheduled gathering. You can upload photos beforehand and even order these personalized keepsakes well before they are needed unless you want the death date printed on them. We want to help make this process as easy for you as possible.
We know that the last days of someone’s life on earth can involve many tiring, grievous hours of waiting. You may feel powerless to help your loved one. Preparing memorial keepsakes can give you something to do to help your loved one. It can also provide a special way to reflect on their life and legacy.
Whether you have time to prepare keepsakes before or after your loved one passes, we hope this information will help you and your family. Laughing and crying over beloved memories captured in photos can bond families together and help aid the grieving journey. The personalized keepsakes you design will be cherished mementos for loved ones and friends in the coming days.
Image by Margarita Kochneva from Pixabay
