How to Honor a Deceased Loved One and Offer Support
In this article and video, I’ll be focusing on life, death, and grief and how we can use the resources I’ve created over the years to honor them all. This will be an overview on how to honor a deceased loved one in ways that provide solace during grief and when experiencing loss. This is your content warning. So if this isn’t a topic you want to explore right now please exit and come back when you are ready.
Table of Contents
How to Honor a Deceased Loved One
If you didn’t know, this topic is really important to me because of the passing of my father just after I turned 18. With his death came the core of my storytelling: how do we honor the person who’s passed—or people who will pass? How do we honor this life we have right now? And how do we honor the life next to us, even if we only have five minutes with them? That is what I hope to encourage through my work, and the work you are doing.
The Legacy Recorder was born out of my need to process my own grief and find peace within myself to be able to move forward and continue on my life path. My father’s memory lives on because I am willing and able to talk about him with my children, family, and you.
Reaching Out for Support
The loss of a loved one can bring about difficult feelings and emotions. It may be hard to process these overwhelming waves of sadness, but it is important to reach out for support and take time to honor the memory of the departed one. Caregivers, volunteers, families, and funeral staff—all those who are affected by this type of loss can benefit from understanding how they can offer care and comfort while also providing meaningful methods of remembrance. When you are responding with support, knowing how to honor a deceased loved one can help.
Things to read, listen to, or watch on how to honor a deceased loved one
These are resources to help you figure out how to honor a deceased loved one and/or offer support to someone who is grieving or experiencing loss.
- Read – How to Honor Death & Grief
- Watch – Telling Your Grief Story & Why You Need To
- Listen to – Photos, Death, & Storytelling
A Resource to Check Out
Goodgrief App – This is a resource for loss and grief like I’ve never seen. I discovered it in 2017 and have been singing its praises to anyone who would listen since! The app is designed to match people with similar stories and experiences of loss so we can have a safe space, with others who empathize while moving through our grief. I can’t recommend it enough, I hope it will help you as it’s helped me and so many others.
Here are a few posts from their blog:
Storytelling Activity I’m Loving
One of the good things that can come from grief is receiving and remembering the community, love, and support you have around you. To help your storyteller reflect on this, try asking them the following prompts:
- When was a time you felt really supported?
- Who was there for you?
- What type of support did they offer you?
- How have you been able to support them, or someone else in a similar way?
What’s Next on How to Honor a Deceased Loved One
Grieving the loss of a loved one is hard. It’s an emotional journey, and throughout that journey, it can be difficult to know how to honor someone while battling your own sadness. I hope this article has been a source of comfort by giving you strength in your mourning as well as guidance on tangible ways to honor someone in death.
From utilizing storytelling activities to engaging with literature or podcasts, there are many pathways that provide time for reflection and remembrance. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed and needing extra support; simply book a call and we can take some time to work together to find your next step. May the memories and legacy of your loved one offer peace and comfort during this difficult time.