When a loved one passes on, you organize their cremation service in Marlton, NJ and you fully expect the days after that service to be hard ones. You are grieving and your life will never be the same without them. However, once a little time passes, you learn to live with the grief and your life starts to have a new sense of normal to it. But when the anniversary of their death sneaks up on you, or other special days, like your loved one’s birthday, it could throw you back into that grieving process all over again. Here are a few things to do on the anniversary of their death that can help you to face the day head-on.

1. Visit Their Final Resting Place

One of the most obvious things you might want to do on a loved one’s death anniversary is to visit their final resting place. If they are buried in a cemetery, check the visiting hours and perhaps invite a few family members to go along with you. Take some flowers for their grave and share stories with one another. You can even talk to them, let them know how much you miss them, that you love them, and are always thinking of them. If you cremated your loved one and scattered their ashes, you can visit that scattering site and do some of the same things.

2. Make Reservations With Family

Your loved one may have loved Italian food and the anniversary of their death can be a good time to gather with your family for a nice meal in their honor. This meal can be somewhat of a memorial where you talk about them, get some of their favorite dishes, share stories, and even pass around pictures. Having an event, even a small one, to look forward to on the anniversary can help you to start a new tradition that can make the day easier to get through.

3. Write a Letter to your Loved One, sharing fond memories and reflections on their life.

It can be helpful to write a letter to your loved one, sharing fond memories and reflections on their life. This can be a cathartic experience, and it can also help you to remember the good times you shared together. When writing your letter, be sure to focus on the positive aspects of your relationship. What are some of your favorite memories? What did you admire most about your loved one? What did they mean to you? Letting go of negative emotions is an important part of the grieving process, and writing this letter can help you to do that.

4. Attend An Event

If your loved one enjoyed sports, plan to go to a game on the day they died to celebrate the way they lived. There might be baseball, hockey, basketball, football, or something else going on in the area. If, instead, they enjoyed the arts, see what local theaters have running and go see a play or musical. Take a family member or friend with you and enjoy the event as if your loved one were there with you.

5. Donate to a Cause or Charity that was important to them in their lifetime.

One way to remember and honor a loved one who has passed away is to make a donation to a cause or charity that was important to them in their lifetime. This can be a powerful way to commemorate their life and legacy, while also helping to support a cause that is dear to your heart. When making a donation in honor of someone who has passed away, be sure to include their name and contact information so that the organization can send you a thank-you letter or notification. This will help you to remember your loved one every time you see the notification, and it will also allow you to track the impact of your donation.

6. Volunteer Somewhere

There are lots of ways you can honor your loved one, do good, and get through the anniversary of their death at the same time. You might honor your loved one by spending time at a local charity event serving a meal, sorting clothes, running errands, or doing any other little tasks that need to be done for that organization. 

Celebrating a death anniversary can be a way to keep your loved one’s memory alive and to find comfort in the shared experience of grief. It is also an opportunity to reflect on the life that was lived and to cherish the happy memories you have together. There are many other ways to celebrate a death anniversary, and it is important to find a way that is meaningful for you and your family. It will keep you busy and your loved one would appreciate that this is the way you chose to spend the anniversary of their cremation service in Marlton, NJ. Your cremation provider is always there for advice if you want to call for further ideas.