Often times, after the loss of a loved one, some people feel the need to do something special to honour their loved one’s memory.
There are several ways to do this – including a memorial page – and the best part is, you don’t have to be an artist or even be very creative to make something meaningful.
The first step in building a memorial page is to choose which picture or items that will be used.
If you choose to use an original picture, that may have been taken many years ago, perhaps it is an old sepia photo.
I recommend having a scan or reproduction of the picture made so if a mistake does occur you haven’t ruined the only picture.
The rest is really quite simple – choose your cardstock and embellishments, and away you go! Embellishments are things like buttons, ribbon, stickers; anything that can be glued on the page that compliments the theme of your picture or the story you are telling.
Journalizing on the page also adds a nice touch. Write a short paragraph about what is happening in the picture, or what the picture means to you.
The benefits of making a memorial page are many.
Not only does it give you something to do for yourself, as you move through your grief journey, it can also be therapeutic to talk about your loved one as you build the page.
The page can be framed and displayed in your home, and may be a source of interest for others who come to visit, or you can make a scrapbook and show it like a picture album.
It can become a legacy to be handed down through the younger generations so they will know their roots and where they belong.
Another way to memorialize a loved one lost is to make a memory box. The box can be as fancy or as simple as you want, for the treasure is inside.
Place small items inside it that hold a story or special memory. In my memory box, I have what I call “grandpas pocket.” After my beloved grandpa passed, I put on an old jacket of his, that I had selected from his wardrobe, and headed out on a walk. I put my hand in the pocket and to my amazement, there was a stub of a pencil, a paper clip, a pill he didn’t take, a phone number and an eraser.
He loved to write, so I keep these simple items as a reminder of him and the special memories and lessons I will carry with me in my life.
– Barbara Bleiler is a certified funeral celebrant and advertising rep for the Grand Forks Gazette