Our Weekly Tip: Create a Lasting Memorial Tree

Credit: http://blog.funeralone.com

Our Tip of the Week: If you’re looking for a thoughtful, lovely way to honor and remember someone who has died, why not consider making a memory tree? This is a wonderful way to engage funeral guests and a beautiful gift for the family to take home. You can use an actual potted tree or a tree limb that you might paint and place in a lovely vase. Then guests can write memories of your loved one on pieces of paper and hang them from the branches. It’s a unique and meaningful way to celebrate a life.

Credit: http://www.nextgenmemorials.com

How-to Suggestion: As mentioned above, start by purchasing a small tree or branch. You can purchase beautiful tree branches at your local craft store or wholesale flower market (and paint the tree branch – or leave it natural.) You can use a vase, a pot, or any decorative storage container filled with stones or hardening gel to hold the branch in place. You might place dried moss on the top, also available at a florist supply. Bring the tree to the memorial service, and ask guests to write memories of the loved one on pieces of paper (you can purchase these or measure and cut your own rectangles of decorative paper). Make sure the papers have a hole punched at the top, and then have guests tie their memories to the tree with a piece of ribbon or string. The family can then take the tree home and keep it as a reminder of their loved one. The memories can either be left on the branches, or removed and stored somewhere special.