There was a time when a memorial tribute for a loved one consisted of little more than an urn, a headstone, or the flowers left over from the funeral service. But today, changing attitudes toward death and remembrance are combining with modern technology and artistic creativity to make for some fascinating memorial tributes. For instance, many funeral and memorial services these days feature videos and DVD slideshows, photo boards, and memory tables. But there are also other lasting memorial tributes that are growing in popularity, including:

• Memorial gems and jewelry
• Tree and seedlings
• Quilts and pillows
• Memory stones and trees

1. Video and Slideshow Memorials

Videos and slideshows are a great way to bring together memories from many different people. Your loved one likely touched many lives over the years, and some of those people will have pictures or home videos lying around that can be compiled into a memorial video or slideshow that showcases your loved one’s life. The great thing about video and photo compilations is that they can be put on DVDs, transferred electronically, or shared online, meaning the video can be shown at the funeral or memorial service, and enjoyed by others for years to come.

2. Online Tributes

Another growing memorial trend is the tribute website, which is a memorial website dedicated to the life and memories of your departed loved one. These can be accessed by friends and family around the globe, making it easier for everyone to share and grieve together. These sites often include pictures, guest books, music, and customizable images and backgrounds. 

3. Hand-Sewn Memorial Crafts

When a loved one passes away, they leave behind all their worldly possessions, and this includes clothes that families are left to keep, donate, gift, or throw away. Another option, however, is to take some of your loved one’s favorite clothes and sew them into different crafts, such as quilts and pillows. These crafts can even be mingled with photos and keepsakes for a loving tribute that can be passed down in the family.

4. Memorial Trees

For environmentally conscious families, planting memorial trees both gives back to the Earth and provides a lasting memorial to commemorate your loved one. Memorial trees can either be planted in honor of your loved one or planted on top of his or her cremains. A similar tribute is to pass out memorial seedlings at the funeral that guests can plant in honor of the departed.

5. Memory Stones or Trees

If you're looking for a way to gather memories and stories from others that can be shared and enjoyed later, consider providing small stones or decorative pieces of paper on which funeral guests can write their memories. These can then be collected or hung from small tree branches so that you can go back and read them when you want to remember.

6. Memorial Jewelry

There are several forms of memorial jewelry, including cremation diamonds, fingerprint jewelry, and even funeral flower beads.

Cremation diamonds are made when ashes are taken to special jewelry companies that press the cremains into gems, which can then be kept as keepsakes or set into jewelry.

Fingerprint jewelry, or thumbprint jewelry, is when the fingerprint or handprint of your loved one is engraved on a piece of metal jewelry, such as a charm for a bracelet or a pendant for a necklace.

Funeral flower beads are a creative way to turn dried funeral flowers into a lasting artistic tribute. The dried flowers get crushed and mixed into polymer clay, which can then be formed into beads or pendants and dried to be used as jewelry.

There are many ways that you can commemorate your departed loved ones, including photo and video compilations, jewelry, trees, and other memory-sharing tributes. The Internet is making memorials even easier to share with loved ones and friends around the world, meaning you and your family can continue sharing and remembering the dearly departed even when you're not together.

If you have any questions about these offerings, please feel free to contact us at anytime.