Our Weekly Tip: Toss Valentine’s Day Remembrance Kisses and Hugs

Seaside memorial scattering
(Credit: nextgenmemorial.com)

Credit: pinterest.com

Our Tip of the Week: Valentine’s Day, the international day of love, can be a perfect time of year for a memorial service. It’s the day we’re accustomed to expressing our deepest love with words, flowers and gestures, and will be a memorial celebration forever in everyone’s heart.

Consider gathering family and friends to join in the scattering of your loved one’s ashes. Let each guest participate in the way they prefer: tossing rose petals, reading their own lovingly crafted words or scattering a portion of the cremation ashes. You can also provide each guest with their own special gift for tossing. Encourage everyone to shout words of love as they scatter their gifts in joyful remembrance of the person who was. Such an uplifting scattering celebration on Valentine’s Day will both unlock and open the hearts of your guests.

Basket of tissue paper cones filled with fresh miniature rose petals
(Credit: flickr.com)

Glassine envelopes filled with fresh red rose petals
(Credit: flickr.com)

How-to Suggestion: Think of the sweetness of heart-shaped confectionery and there’s no limit to creative ideas. Your hand-assembled gifts will spill over with the metaphors of kisses and hugs. Begin by designing or buying a paper container to hold flower petals. Perhaps make individually handmade cones constructed of tissue paper, paper doilies or construction paper, and fill each with flower petals. Or buy glassine envelopes, available at craft stores or online, that show hints of rose petals peeking through. Add custom monogram stickers with the initials of your lost loved one with a two-or-three-word love note below, then place a sticker on each cone or envelope. You may also consider sprinkling in a thimbleful of the cremation ashes among the petals.

Nicely lay the gifts in a basket that can be easily carried or handed off to a guest who’s willing to distribute the gifts. A basket is handy for ash scatterings outdoors in a field or at seaside. Your guests will be deeply touched by your asking them to join in the actual scattering. The paper holders also provide a wonderful keepsake that can be placed in a book and later stumbled upon, spurring special memories of Valentine’s Day.

Note: Scattering of ashes tip — always toss in the direction of the wind.