Creating a Lasting Memorial for a Loved One

Ryan Funeral Home

Apr 22, 2025 • 3 min read

Creating a lasting memorial for a loved one can be personal, or shared with family members and friends of the deceased.
A memorial can serve as an alternative to visiting a gravesite and act as a place to pay respects or pray.

Creating a lasting memorial goes beyond a traditional burial site and gives the opportunity for you to be creative and unique.

Ideas for Creating a Unique Memorial

Make it personal
Incorporate photos, mementos, or items that remind you of your loved one or a specific memory you shared.
Create a place to visit
You can have a plaque installed in a park, on a bench, on a walking path, at a stadium, or somewhere that commemorates them.
This place can also become a space for you to create new memories that feel like you’re sharing them with your loved one.
Host a gathering at home
Invite others to share stories, bring photo albums, or create a video to celebrate their memory while doing something fun and uplifting.
Unveil a memorial dedication
Dedicate all or part of a park, playground, pavilion, stadium or theatre, an art installation, or land trust in your loved one’s name.
Develop a scholarship fund
If you have the means to fund a scholarship in your loved one’s name, you can give a student with similar interests or who attends the same school a meaningful opportunity.
Plant a memorial garden
Find a space to fill with flowers and plants that will evoke fond memories of your loved one.
Build a memorial website
A website can act as a place for others to share memories, photos, videos, and send regards to your loved one on their birthday or on holidays.
Keep them with you
Did you know there are artists who incorporate ashes into their work?
Ashes of loved ones can be made into statues, painted into portraits, or even inked into tattoos.
Some artists also use fingerprints to create unique jewelry.
Go green
For those who love the planet, ashes can be used with seeds to plant a tree, or used to create a reef to help rebuild the ocean’s coral ecosystems.

Meaning and Support

Creating a lasting memorial is about honoring your loved one and providing a way for you to connect with them in a way that feels true to their character and your relationship.
It will be a special experience regardless of how you choose to commemorate them.

If you’d rather go a more traditional route in creating your memorial, you can find some of the ways we can help [here].