Remembrance ideas to honour your loved one on their death anniversary

Whether it’s the first or fourth death anniversary since their passing, it can be a hard time of year for anyone who has lost a loved one. With emotions running high, it might feel overwhelming to think up ideas for ways you can honour their memory on this special day.

In this blog, we’ve created a list of remembrance ideas to help you plan something special for your loved one. From simply writing a letter to planning a family and friends get-together, we cover some of the best and most unique ways to remember a loved one on the anniversary of their passing.

What is a death anniversary?

A death anniversary is just as it sounds, It’s the anniversary of someone’s death. They are sometimes referred to as an “angelversary” as well. While it can be a sad and painful day for most, a lot of people often decide to use these days to commemorate or celebrate their loved ones or do something in their memory. For some, this can help with the grieving process and enables you to create nice memories with others in honour of your loved one(s).

What can I do in memory of someone on their death anniversary?

A death anniversary can feel like a lot to bare, especially if it’s the first one since their passing. If you find yourself feeling too overwhelmed to come up with plans and ideas, then we’re here to help you choose something special to do in their memory, whether you’d prefer a family and/or friends gathering or something more private, maybe a little quieter.

Visit a special place

Visiting a special place that holds happy memories for you and your loved one is a simple yet peaceful way to remember them. This can be anything from their favourite pubs or coffee shops to meeting places, museums or even parks. You can plan a whole day out with your friends and family or simply go alone, whatever feels right for you.

Gather friends and family

If you find this time of year too hard and you’d prefer not to spend it alone, then gathering your friends and family to spend time with and talk to can be a great way to honour your loved one’s death anniversary.

You could have a light tea perhaps in the comfort of your own home, family and friends can share stories and special memories together with you over a bite to eat, or maybe go for a walk to their grave, memorial, or favourite spot together. You could even do something a bit more unique and host an evening of storytelling, where family and friends take turns to share their best-loved memories. You can be as creative as you wish with the ways you choose to remember and honour your loved one.

Name a star for them

It’s a very unique idea for remembering a loved one who has passed. It can feel especially personal if they were interested in astronomy or held a love for nature. Naming a star for them and getting to see it in the sky will make for a special memory and you could even host a picnic or garden party under the stars to commemorate the naming of this star.

Write a letter to them

If you’re feeling overwhelmed and the thought of making plans or gathering a lot of people feels like a bit too much, then something as simple as writing a letter to them can be just as special as throwing a party. It can be very therapeutic and is a great way to grieve. The best part is that it can be done in your own time, at your own pace, so it doesn’t feel too overwhelming. You could keep it in a memory box along with other letters or keepsakes, to help you remember and keep their memory alive.

Visit their resting place

One of the most common and traditional ways to celebrate a death anniversary is to visit their resting place. If your loved one had a burial, then you can take a trip to their grave, or if you’ve scattered their ashes somewhere special, you can visit the place where you did that and pay your respects.

You can do this alone or gather your loved ones, whichever suits your needs better. Many people will take blankets or chairs so they can sit down and reflect for a while. People will often take small gifts and flowers to lay on their graves as well. Some even like to have picnics at their loved ones’ resting places accompanied by all of their favourite foods to help honour their memory.

Light a candle or lantern for them

This is another traditional idea for a death anniversary. This can feel very special if you lit a candle or lantern for them at their funeral, almost like a tradition. However even if not, the lighting of a candle or lantern can be very symbolic. This can be done from a place of worship or the comfort of your own home and gives you a moment to pay your respects. It may seem like a small gesture but don’t underestimate the meaning behind it.

Get outdoors

If your loved one liked getting outdoors then hiking through their favourite trail or taking a walk through the woods in memory of them is a peaceful way to commemorate their death anniversary.

This can be a great idea if you find yourself feeling anxious or overwhelmed on the day, as fresh air and nature can help you to calm down and promote a feeling of peacefulness. You can even bring a picnic to have once you’ve completed your walk filled with all their favourite foods, you may even choose to listen to some of their favourite music while you eat.

Have a meal in their honour

A simple but memorable idea. You can gather friends and family at their favourite restaurant or cook their favourite home-cooked meal in their honour. Anything from barbeques to afternoon tea, whatever feels like the most appropriate way for their remembrance. As you share a meal with your closest loved ones you can enjoy telling stories and reliving memories. It’s a great way to both bring people together as well as help with the grieving process.

Support a charity in their name

If there was a charity that was particularly close to your loved one’s heart then donating is a great way to honour them. However, it doesn’t have to simply be a donation, you could try volunteering at the charity for their death anniversary, or take part in an event or fundraiser.

You could set up a funding page, linked to their favourite charity, and each year you could donate on the anniversary of their passing or maybe as their birthday or Christmas gift. You could do this on as many or a few dates as you wish and it will also others to get involved as well.

Have a quiet day to yourself

One of the most important things you can do on a death anniversary is to take care of yourself. If making plans and writing letters feels like too much for you then try to take a quiet day for yourself. It’s a hard time of year and you don’t need to push yourself to do something big if you’re not feeling up for it. Relax in the comfort of your own home and have a minute of silence in their honour, cook their favourite meal for dinner, listen to their favourite music or watch their favourite show. In the end, if any of it feels like too much, not doing anything at all can be just as helpful to your grieving journey as doing something big.

Get more guidance from Heart of England

It’s important to remember that a death anniversary should feel special and personal to you and your loved one. Whether you want to throw a big party with family and friends in their memory or if you want a quiet day at home alone, there is no right or wrong way to remember someone on their death anniversary.

If you want more advice on how to deal with grief during this hard time of year then you can check out our blogs on how to help a child deal with grief to how to help a loved one who is grieving for more help and advice on the subject.