Alternative End-of-Life Memorials: Scattering of Ashes

Funeral homes and churches are not always the most fitting places to say your goodbyes. After all, your loved one was a unique individual with their own tastes and personality. So, if you’re starting to feel that the traditional methods wouldn’t be the most appropriate way to honor your loved one, don’t worry. There are numerous alternative end-of-life memorials you can do instead.

Gather at Your Loved One’s Favorite Spot

There’s nothing wrong with going in a more traditional direction, of course. But if you’re looking to do something different for the deceased, having your memorial service at one of their favorite spots is an excellent way to go.

This could be your home, a public park or garden, or even your loved one’s favorite coffee shop. Invite your friends and family to celebrate with you. Once you’ve had some time to sit and talk about how wonderful the deceased was, you can pick a nice area to scatter their ashes. Doing this will honor their memory and help provide some closure for you, your family, and your friends.

Plant a Tree and Hold a Service

Planting a tree is another powerful alternative end-of-life memorial you can do to honor your loved one. This is an especially lovely way to celebrate the deceased’s life if you have ashes to scatter. Invite those in attendance to help you plant the tree and take some time to tell your favorite stories about your loved one.

Once you feel comfortable enough to do so, take the ashes and spread them around the base of the tree. Doing this can serve as a meaningful symbol of keeping your loved one in your thoughts as you embark on a new journey in life and move forward.

Designate a Spot in Your Home for Them

Of course, if you’d prefer not to scatter the ashes right away, you can designate a special place in your home to honor your loved one. This doesn’t have to be an enormous, ornate shrine. Instead, you can start by putting the deceased’s ashes in a lovely urn with a beautiful urn nameplate.

Then, you can surround the urn with old jewelry, perfume or cologne, and flowers that remind you of your loved one. This can be a sweet reminder that they’re always with you. And as you start to feel strong enough, you might want to scatter a little ash each year to keep the memory of your loved one alive.

It doesn’t matter how you choose to celebrate the life of your loved one. What matters is that you honor them in a way that’s fitting of the vibrant and wonderful individual they were. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and get creative.