Our Monthly Tip: Create a Shoe Memorial

Old boots might recall a loved one’s favorite activities.
Credit: funeralguide.co.uk

Our Tip of the Month 

Empty shoes have long been considered a memorial item – after all, few things serve better as a “stand-in” for someone who’s died. An annual empty shoe memorial at the state capitol in Madison, Wisconsin, mourns those who’ve died by suicide; another in Iowa recognizes those lost to COVID-19. Similar memorials around the country honor pedestrians killed in traffic, victims of gun violence, or first responders who died on 9/11.

Shoes also offer unique opportunities to create a more personal memorial honoring a dead friend or family member. By incorporating a loved one’s shoes into a garden or patio space, one can create new life that honors their death.

Boots provide more space for planting flowers.
Credit: homestratosphere.com

How-to Suggestions

Find the right pair: Identify the shoes best suited to the task. Decide which aspect of the person’s personality you’d like to evoke: A pair of worn hiking boots could kindle memories of shared adventures, while head-turning heels might recall a friend’s sassy side. Consider which option would work best with the plants you’d like to incorporate. Boots provide more room for flowers to grow, while running shoes may be better suited to less demanding plants such as succulents. Strappy sandals, meanwhile, could become a support for ivy or sweet peas.

Succulents are one hardy option for creating a shoe memorial garden.
Credit: homestratosphere.com

Design your arrangement: Choose plants that were special to the person, or that highlight some aspect of their personality. Alternatively, you could seek out shapes and colors that compliment the shoes themselves. Don’t hesitate to make cut-outs, upend sandals, or incorporate trellises or other tools that will add to your display. Invite your creative side out to play. After all, there are no rules.

Shoe memorials can be easily incorporated into a garden arrangement.
Credit: Pinterest

Decide on a Setting: Place the shoes on an outdoor patio, in a garden bed surrounded by flowers, beneath a favorite tree or next to an outdoor bench. Perhaps there’s a special spot in your backyard that the person most loved.

A shoe memorial can serve as the perfect way to honor someone who’s walked with you in this life. Each time you view their shoes, it will remind you of their journey’s impact, and allow you to wish them well as they move on.