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What To Do On The One-Year Anniversary Of A Loved One’s Death

Death anniversaries can be difficult, especially the first year after a loss. It may be challenging figuring out how to mark the occasion while dealing with the grief and pain it brings. But looking for ways to keep your loved one’s memory alive can be a healing part of your grief journey. Here are some ideas to help you mark the one-year anniversary of your loved one’s death in a way that honors their memory.

1. A Special Meal

Hosting a meal to honor your loved one is a nice way to bring people together. It can offer them comfort and support. Making your loved one’s favorite meal or cuisine can be meaningful. A potluck is one idea that will allow everyone to pitch in, and not have too much responsibility rest on one person on such a difficult day. Having a theme that has something to do with your loved one’s favorite food, restaurant, or holiday can be a nice way to honor them with others who loved them.

2. Revisit a Special Place

Visiting one of your loved one’s favorite spots, or a spot that was meaningful to both of you, can be a special way to honor their memory. This does not need to be a destination or vacation spot, although it absolutely can be. It can be as simple as a park, a restaurant, café, or trail. Bringing a journal and jotting down memories and feelings can be a helpful tool as emotions come up on this difficult day.

3. Do Good in Their Name

One way you can honor a loved one’s memory on this anniversary is by doing something charitable in their name. If your loved one was passionate about a particular charity or cause, finding a volunteer event in that area or raising funds for that group can be a great way to commemorate the day. Or, you can look for a way to give back to the local community they loved. Volunteer at a soup kitchen or local food pantry in their honor. Another idea is to organize a run or walk in their memory. If your loved one was taken by a disease, it could be a run or walk fundraiser to raise money for awareness or to fund research related to that particular disease.

4. Plant a Memorial Tree

If the person you are honoring loved the outdoors, nature, or gardening, planting a memorial tree can be a special way to celebrate their life and honor their memory. There are even companies that offer eco-friendly urns that can be planted with your special tree. Invite loved ones to attend a memorial tree planting ceremony on this one year anniversary. People can share memories, stories, and all lend a hand in planting the tree.

5. Create a Memory Book with Photos

A nice way to mark the anniversary of a loved one’s death is to create a memory book with photos. You can ask family and friends to contribute some favorite photos of your loved one. With many online photo sites, you can produce multiple copies of a photo book, making a special keepsake for all the friends and family involved.

6. Visit Your Loved One’s Final Resting Place

Taking a visit with family and friends to your loved one’s final resting place is a meaningful way to pay respects. When visiting a gravesite you can bring flowers and have each person with you say a few words. If your loved one was cremated and their ashes were scattered at a special location, you can visit the site together. If possible, you could bring a picnic and share your favorite stories and memories of your loved one.

7. Light a Memorial Candle

Lighting a candle in honor of a loved one is a special way to commemorate the anniversary of their passing. Candles can invoke a sense of calm, and can be a metaphor, symbolizing the memory of your loved one burning bright. Additionally, you can say a prayer, have a moment of silence while reflecting on what the person meant to you, or share this ritual with loved ones. If your loved one had a favorite scent, you could use a scented candle that reminds you of them.

There is no right or wrong way to commemorate the one-year anniversary of a loved one’s death. You may just need a day to stay peaceful and practice self-care. It can be a painful day, so make sure you seek out needed support. Do not push yourself beyond what you are ready for. Choose an activity that sounds the most meaningful to you, and one that you feel comfortable doing. Then you can have peace knowing you are spending this anniversary in a way that feels right to you. If you feel alone or isolated, there are many resources available to help you through this hard day. Visit Found and Sons’ Grief & Healing page for online support resources, and access to grief education with our Executive Counseling Director, Dr. Virginia Simpson.

Meaningful Things You Can Do for Someone Who is Grieving

Life is full of ups and downs. There are moments of success, and then there are moments of failure or grief. But nothing is sadder than a loved one leaving us forever; the loss is an irreparable one.

Memories associated with them are fresh in our minds, and it becomes very tough to let go. Due to this internal pain, stress hormones are released into the body. The effect of these hormones causes an increase in mental distress and instability in the mind, and it becomes tough to overcome these. When someone you know is in grief, their professional life also takes a hit as they are not able to concentrate on their work. However, if you can take some thoughtful actions, it can offer relief to your friend or relative.

Below we have some meaningful things you can do for someone who is grieving, to not only relieve their pain but to also help them lead a normal life.

Stay in Touch With the Person

It is a bitter fact that nothing in the world can take the place of the person who is no more. However, your support and support from friends and family can help your friend overcome this indispensable loss to an extent. The follow-up period after the death of a loved one is a crucial time. During this phase, the bereaved requires the utmost care and attention of their close ones. Therefore, you can try staying connected to them through frequent phone calls and visits. This will help them share thoughts and also divert their mind temporarily.

Keep the Person Physically Active

Help your friend stay physically active by involving them in some activities or tasks. For example, to divert their mind, you can make them participate in household chores such as grocery shopping, cooking, and pet care. Playing outdoor sports with them such as basketball, cricket, etc., can also keep them fit and active. Yoga and meditation are other effective ways to help declutter your friend’s mind and cope in adverse situations.

Connect the Person With Nature

Nature and fresh air revitalize and calm a person. Taking your buddy outside the house for a long walk or a long drive can ease their feeling of isolation and sadness. Besides, activities such as gardening and watering the plants also soothe their mind and generate positive energy.

Help to Commemorate the Deceased

Memorialize the person who is no more. You can make him write a poem in memory of the deceased or even get a photograph of them together framed. This reflects the love and affection towards the deceased and helps your pal and their relatives recall the good memories they shared.

Listen More, Talk Less

The loss of a loved one leaves people devastated. Sometimes the most meaningful thing you can do for someone who is grieving is give them complete space to talk freely and express their thoughts. All your pal needs is a patient and calm listener. Sometimes just listening can provide significant relief to the individual.

Deliver Some Thoughtful Tokens

Losing a person close to your heart is the hardest thing to overcome. Nothing can compensate for it. However, sending some thoughtful tokens to your friend in the form of food or flowers along with a message note showing care and love depicts emotional gestures for them.

If you want to know more about meaningful things you can do for someone who is grieving, contact our experts at Found and Sons Funeral Chapels and Cremation Service.

Tips for Writing a Meaningful Obituary

American playwright and novelist Thornton Wilder once said, “The highest tribute to the dead is not grief but gratitude.” Of course, grief is inescapable, and a part of the normal human experience after death occurs. One way we can express our gratitude to our loved ones is by preparing a farewell that captures their essence and communicates what they meant to us and to the world. The team at Found and Sons Funeral Chapels & Cremation Service has been honored to do that for our neighbors in Culpeper and Fredericksburg for more than 80 years.

One of the oldest forms of paying tribute to a loved one is the obituary, which can be traced historically back to the time of the ancient Romans. While it has been called a number of different things throughout the centuries, the modern death announcement became known as an “obituary” around the 18^th century. Obituaries have undergone a lot of changes throughout the years. For example, 20 years ago we would primarily read obituaries in the local newspaper, whereas now, online memorials are more popular. Publishing online is preferred because loved ones can edit content, including video and photo slideshows, and share easily and widely on social media networks. Families use obituaries to tell their loved one’s unique life story and to communicate key information about the visitation, service, or reception. Friends and family members can also leave online condolences that appear instantly.

The ability to share a loved one’s obituary so widely increases the importance of creating a tribute that is accurate, vivid, and compelling. It’s a significant responsibility, but at Found and Sons Funeral Chapels & Cremation Service, our caring staff has the knowledge and experience to help you with this. We realize writing an obituary can seem daunting, especially while dealing with the numerous decisions and tasks that must be made in connection to the funeral service. At a time when grief can overwhelm, we are here to help you find the words you want to say.

As you’re preparing to write an obituary, consider these tips to help you get started:

Keep it simple

An obituary can be many things: a notice of death, a story of life, a family record, a request for memorial donations, a source of information about funeral service, and a thank you to special people, institutions or groups who provided help and comfort. It is also a defining statement about the person who has died, so accuracy is crucial. If you are struggling with what information to include, we can offer step-by-step guidance, so you convey your loved one’s personality and contributions in a meaningful way.

Review the obituary to catch misspellings and verify facts

Too often, errors slip by – names are misspelled, dates are incorrect, specifics are overlooked – which is why it is essential to have a number of people proofread before publication. Our caring team, available at our locations in Culpeper County, will make sure to choose appropriate phrasing and confirm correct information.

Take care when selecting what to highlight

Key points in an obituary include childhood, education, career, military service, hobbies and accomplishments. These details serve as a reflection of your loved one and present an opportunity to let his or her personality shine on paper. In many cases, an obituary is the only article ever written about a person’s life and may be the only record of existence that remains centuries later. We realize how important this is, and that’s why we post obituaries on our website free of charge for families we serve. Our online obituaries also provide links to send sympathy flowers and the ability to light a memory candle.

During this difficult time, please remember that our compassionate staff Found and Sons Funeral Chapels & Cremation Service and is here for you with advice, comfort and expertise. Reach out to us today.

“Mommy, when is Grandma coming back?”— Explaining Death to Children

“Mommy, when is Grandma coming back?”— Explaining Death to Children

Knowing what to say to children when a loved one dies can be a challenge. Many Culpeper and Fredericksburg families have approached our team at Found and Sons over the years wondering about the “best” ways to handle such a complex and emotional topic. In our work helping families plan funerals or memorial services, we’ve observed that children react to death differently, often depending on their ages.

While most realize something sad and difficult is going on, some children haven’t developed the coping skills for unpleasant events and may react in physical ways. This might include headaches, upset stomachs, or unusual aches and pains. In some cases, children will regress by thumb-sucking, bed-wetting, or having angry and aggressive tantrums. They may also avoid the issue entirely by pretending the person who died has simply gone shopping or on vacation. All of these behaviors are entirely normal.

Above all, children need sensitivity, patience, and support as they process the loss. Consider these tips when it comes to how you react to children during a time of grief:

DO:

Do be honest but keep it simple when explaining death to children. For example, “Grandma’s body stopped working.”
Do share your faith, but in a way your children can understand. If they need more details, they will ask questions. It’s perfectly acceptable to admit that you don’t always have the answers.
Do help them find ways to express their grief and frustration, such as drawing, music, exercise, or other forms of play.
Do include them in the funeral rituals or memorial services you plan.
Do express your grief in front of your child. Tears and sadness are normal and appropriate reactions to death.

DON’T:

Don’t try to hide the death from them.
Don’t change your daily routine. As much as possible, keep to a consistent schedule including school and social events.
Don’t use euphemisms and clichés to describe the situation. Phrases like “passed away,” “went to sleep,” or “moved on” can be confusing to children.
Don’t be afraid or nervous to talk about your loved one. Research shows that sharing stories and memories helps with healing and closure.
Don’t expect children to move through grief Losing a loved one is difficult, regardless of your age.

At Found and Sons, we see it as part of our mission to help the grieving move toward healing, which is why we provide a number of aftercare resources for our families. You can even subscribe to receive our daily email message that provides a dose of encouragement and inspiration. It doesn’t matter what time of day, or what day of the week you need support, we’re here for you. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us today.