19 Unique Remembrance Gifts: Heartfelt Keepsakes to Honor Cherished Memories
When mourning the loss of a loved one, it is natural to want something meaningful to remember them by. Special remembrance gifts can offer a profound connection to the extraordinary individuals we have lost, providing a tangible embrace of their enduring presence in our lives.
Remembering your loved one…
There are a number of ways to remember your loved one after they are gone. Whether through personalized keepsakes, DIY creations, memorial jewelry, or eco-friendly tributes, these thoughtful gestures remind us that the impact of a life well-lived transcends the boundaries of physical presence. Letting a loved one go is hard, but it is possible to keep them close even after death.
What is the best way to keep them close to your heart? People are coming up with new and unique ways to remember their loved ones every day. Each person is different, so each remembrance gift should fit the person they represent. The gift you choose can also depend on whether you have cremated remains and how much of those ashes you have and are willing to use.
In this article, we will explore several different suggestions, from touchable keepsakes to digital memorial art, helping you choose which gift best fits your loved one.
Classic Remembrance Gifts
1. Wearable Jewelry
Jewelry is a great way to keep a loved one close at all times.
Many different pieces of jewelry can hold your loved one’s ashes uniquely. From pendant urns that hold a small portion of ashes to gemstones crafted from cremated remains, these wearable keepsakes serve as constant reminders of the unbreakable bond.
You can have jewelry that acts as a miniature urn, featuring a small compartment to hold ashes. This customizable jewelry can include your loved one’s name or even have their photos engraved onto it.
Ashes can be transformed into beautiful gemstones, which can be set in earrings, necklaces, rings, bracelets, and any other type of jewelry.
However, you do not have to have a piece that obviously holds human remains. Jewelry can look like an everyday pendant or piece of jewelry. It might not be evident to the outside world of its importance, but you will know how special the piece is.
2. Customized Urns
Handcrafted Memorial Urns
There are a number of handcrafted cremation urn options available online that will compliment your design style. The artisan marketplace Etsy offers unique keepsake urns, jewelry and even biodegradable burial urns for your loved one.
When you think of a typical place to store ashes, you probably think of the standard shaped urn that sits on a shelf or a fireplace mantel. However, these urns are far from the only options you have. Unique handmade vessels that reflect your personal design style are a popular choice for many, Pulvis Art Urns (shown above) are more than just a container for ashes, they are Shapes of Spirit.
Once you have determined the minimum size of the urn you need, your options are never-ending.Some examples of unique urns include urns in the shape of:
A turtle
A book
A duck
A flower
A bird
Cowboy boots
Urns can also blend seamlessly with home décor, serving as unique pieces that add a touch of charm and elegance. Urns come in all different styles that are as unique as the person they hold. Find something that best fits your loved one.
3. Fingerprints
If your loved one was not cremated or you do not have any of their remains, you can remember your loved one by their fingerprints.This is also a great option if you need a gift in time for a memorial or a funeral. Since you do not need to wait for their ashes, you can order a gift with just their fingerprint.
Fingerprint Jewelry
Fingerprint jewelry gifts for yourself or friends and family of the deceased make everyone feel as though they have a small piece of their loved with them.
Legacy Touch offers a variety of USA made fingerprint rings, necklaces, and keepsakes.
You can put your loved one’s fingerprint on many different items to make each gift personal to the receiver. Some unique gifts you could put their engraved fingerprint on include:
Bookmarks
Necklaces
Rings
Bracelets
Dog tags
Keychains
Pocket knives
Teddy Bears
Christmas ornaments
Cufflinks
These are just a few of the many different items you can place your loved one’s fingerprint on. You can also place their fingerprint on an urn or necklace urn if you do have some of their ashes.
You can order fingerprint gifts for yourself or any friends or family of the deceased. These gifts make everyone feel as though they have a small piece of their loved one without being limited to the number of gifts. They can be created at the time of the funeral or memorial, but they can also be ordered at a later date.
4. Grief Care Packages
A grief care package is a great option if you do not have any cremation remains or access to their fingerprints. You only need love and care in your heart and a bit of creativity.
Personal Grief Gifts
Sometimes it's hard to know what to say or do when someone loses a loved one, and sending a thoughtful grief gift can show how much you care. One of our favorites is the It's OK That You're Not OK grief gift box which is intended to find a new way to deal with loss that honors our experience without trying to "solve" grief. This grief gift box includes a weighted blanket, sleep mask, cozy socks, tranquil room spray and It’s Ok That You’re Not Ok book, which can bring comfort to somebody who is processing grief.
Grief care packages can include a variety of items, such as:
A journal
A picture frame
A candle
Flowers
A card
Grief care packages are a simple and easy way to find some comfort in a very difficult time in your life. They are also a simple way to provide comfort to someone else who has lost a loved one.
DIY Remembrance Gifts
DIY remembrance gifts offer a therapeutic and deeply personal experience for those seeking a hands-on approach. Crafting keepsakes with love and care can be a powerful outlet for channeling grief into something beautiful and meaningful.
5. Parting Stones
Parting stones are a unique way to preserve your loved ones in a way you can hold and feel. You can easily keep them with you wherever you go or place them in your home as a reminder they are with you.
Parting stones are created by taking your loved one’s ashes and adding a small amount of natural binder to them. They are then carefully pressed into solidified stones.
These stones vary slightly in color but tend to be a soft gray color. The shape and size of the stones depend on the amount of remains present. The result is beautiful and smooth stones that you can keep together or divide amongst others.
6. Memory Quilt
Stitch together fabric swatches from a loved one's clothing, creating a cozy quilt that embraces their essence.
7. Scrapbook or Memory Box
Gather cherished photographs, mementos, and handwritten notes to create a heartwarming scrapbook or memory box.
8. Candle Pouring
Infuse candle wax with a loved one's ashes or dried flowers, creating a warm, flickering tribute.
“The process of creating a DIY remembrance gift can be a profoundly healing journey, allowing us to weave our love and grief into a tangible symbol of remembrance.”
Eco-Friendly Remembrance Gifts
For those seeking an environmentally conscious approach, eco-friendly remembrance gifts provide a perfect opportunity to honor both the memory of a loved one and the planet we share.
9. Living Urns
Living urns are a way to keep your loved one close by growing a beautiful plant. It is an urn that holds ashes as well as a soil additive. You can then plant a tree or a flower. A living urn can be planted in a planter or in the ground.
10. Memorial Garden Stones or Benches
Memorial garden stones or benches can be engraved with a cherished message, providing a peaceful outdoor sanctuary for reflection.
11. Wildflower Seed Packets
Wildflower seed packets infused with ashes can be scattered, allowing a loved one’s memory to bloom in natural beauty.
Memorial Benches
Memorial benches can be engraved with a cherished message, providing a peaceful outdoor sanctuary for reflection. Oftentimes, survivors will seek permission to add a memorial bench to a favorite public place their loved one liked to visit so their community can remember them too.
Memorial Arts
“Memorial art has the power to immortalize the beauty and vibrancy of a life well-lived, serving as a visual reminder of the profound impact our loved ones have had on our lives.”
12. Fireworks
Believe it or not, you can actually put your loved one’s remains into fireworks. However, don’t try doing this yourself. There are companies out there that will carefully place just a small portion of the cremated ashes into the fireworks, mixing them safely within.
While putting your loved one’s ashes into a firework might seem very unusual, it can have a beautiful and symbolic goodbye to your family member. A firework display can not only show your loved one’s colorful and bright character, but it can be a way to release their spirit in a way everyone will enjoy.
These fireworks only use a small portion of the remains, so it does not have to be the only way you can remember them. Fireworks can be in addition to any other remembrance piece.
13. Tattoos
You can make your loved one a part of you by mixing their ashes with tattoo ink. This tattoo ink mixture is then used in a tattoo gun, just like any other tattoo. These tattoos are often referred to as ritual or commemorative tattoos. While tattooing a loved one’s ashes into your body is slightly controversial in the tattooing world, many companies and tattoo artists offer this service.
This process is safe as long as the cremated remains are handled properly before and after they are mixed with the tattoo ink. For the best results, it is best to find a tattoo artist who is familiar with doing commemorative or ritual tattoos.
14. Paintings
Some artists mix the ashes in with paint and create a painting with it. This could be a painting of your loved one or any subject that might have meant something to them. There are also artists who create unique, abstract pieces with the ashes.
A popular subject is a beach painting because the ashes add a textured look to the sand.
There are also artists who create portraits almost entirely of ashes. The result is a monotone portrait that is carefully protected with glass and a frame.
15. Resin
Ashes can be added to the resin mixture along with color or other items, such as flowers from their funeral. You can add as much or as little ashes as you want or have.
Resin starts as a liquid, so it can be formed and shaped into almost any mold. It can be crafted into a figurine or sculpture. The resin can be as big or as small as you want. The resin can be shaped into a small pendant that you can put on a necklace or earrings. The resin can also be shaped into any other type of jewelry as well.
16. Glass
While glass can look very similar to resin, the process of making and shaping it is entirely different. Glass art tends to be a little bit more abstract in its shape and design. Because of the way glass is made, the glass is usually a spherical shape or curved in some way. The design inside, along with the ashes, is usually swirled.
Glass art has a unique and beautiful look to it. When light hits a glass piece, it can illuminate across a room. When you add color to a glass piece, it can bend the colorful light, making it feel like your loved one is there with you.
Commemorative Tattoos
Make your loved one a part of you by mixing their ashes with tattoo ink. This tattoo ink mixture is then used in a tattoo gun, just like any other tattoo.
While tattooing a loved one’s ashes into your body is slightly controversial in the tattooing world, many companies and tattoo artists offer this service.
Virtual Remembrance Gifts
In our increasingly digital world, virtual remembrance gifts offer innovative ways to honor and celebrate the lives of our loved ones. They transcend geographical boundaries, allowing us to share our grief and cherished memories with a global community.
17. Online Memorial Websites
Online memorial websites provide a virtual space to share stories, photographs, and tributes with friends and family near and far.
18. Personalized Tribute Videos
Personalized tribute videos can be created by compiling photos, videos, and cherished messages, offering a heartfelt digital legacy.
19. Virtual Condolence Platforms
Virtual condolence platforms facilitate the sharing of love, support, and memories, fostering a sense of community during times of loss.
You have a multitude of ways to remember your loved one after they are gone. Whether through personalized keepsakes, DIY creations, memorial jewelry, or eco-friendly tributes, these thoughtful gestures remind us that the impact of a life well-lived transcends the boundaries of physical presence. Letting a loved one go is hard, but it is possible to keep them close even after death.
“Remembrance gifts are not mere objects; they are vessels that carry the essence of our loved ones, allowing us to navigate the journey of grief with their enduring presence by our side.”
- The Death Network
Written by: Elaina Lilienthal
