When a loved one or family member we deeply loved dies, it can be devastating. It can take weeks, months, or even years before the pain to lessen. No matter what we do it may seem like nothing will make the pain go away or easier to handle a loved one’s death.
Getting Through a Loved One’s Death
To spend time around friends and family members can ease the anguish of losing a loved one. Surrounding yourself around the ones you love can make it just a little bit easier to get through each day. It also can be helpful to remember happy memories and share stories about the person you lost.
Tips for How to Cope with the Death of Loved Ones
- Take a long walk with friends or family
- Go to a special place that you and your loved one liked
- Write down your favorite memory you have with the person
- Spend some quiet time thinking about the person and just embrace your grief
- Talk about your feelings with someone you know or trust
- Grief therapy groups or therapist
What is a Death Anniversary?
You have made it through the first full year of “awful firsts.” For example, the first Thanksgiving, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, your wedding anniversary, Valentine’s Day, and even your first birthday without your loved one being present has passed, or some special day that was unique for both of you.
The one-year anniversary of someone’s passing is usually a day of grief and reflection for the people who were an important part of the deceased person’s life. It marks one full year from when they passed away, and often it is one of the toughest anniversaries to get through.
Despite the pain that the one-year anniversary of their death can bring, it is also an opportunity to reminisce and share your best memories with family and friends.
Death Anniversary Quotes
Here is a list of remembrance messages that may bring comfort and commemorate the Remembrance Day of the anniversary of a loved one.
- “To live in the hearts of those we love is never to die” – Hazel Gaynor
- “Death is never an end, but a To Be Continued…” – Renée Chae
- “To live in the hearts of those we love is never to die” – Thomas Campbell
- “The life of the dead is placed in the heart of the living” – Cicero
- “Love grows more tremendously full, swift, poignant, as the years multiply” – Zane Grey
- “While we are mourning the loss of our friend, others are rejoicing to meet him behind the veil” – John Taylor
- “Those we love and lose are always connected by heartstrings into infinity” – Terri Guillemets
- “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”
~ Dr Seuss
The First Death Anniversary
The first death anniversary of a loved one can be very emotional for both you and other family members. The anniversary of the death of a loved one is overwhelming, especially the first anniversary.
You may not know what to do and that is okay. Not everyone is prepared for the emotional toll that the anniversary of a death can take.
Some people choose to host some sort of memorial or celebration to honor the anniversary of a loved one, but it is up to you how you choose to spend the day. whatever you choose be true to yourself and your feelings. if staying in bed and turning off your phone is the best option for your well-being that day, that’s ok.
Death Anniversary Messages for a Loved One
If you are going to be writing a message to a friend or family member in a sympathy card you may need some pointers first. You cannot really say the “wrong thing” per say, but there are some things you may want to consider before writing your message for this Remembrance Day.
Here are some examples of messages and one year death anniversary quotes that you can say on a first anniversary to friends and family that may be struggling:
- “Today marks one year since the day that lost [name] and we understand how difficult it is and how much you may be hurting. Having lost, [him/her], we know that our lives feel a little less bright. Thinking of you and your loved ones during this time. We love you.”
- “It has been a whole year since we lost [name] and we are heartbroken. I want to make sure that you know that you are in my thoughts and my heart during this difficult one-year anniversary. I think of you and [name] often and I am wishing you strength, light and peace.”
- “Today I am thinking of one my favorite times [describe favorite memory] and how much it meant to me. This world is a little colder without [name] in it and I cannot wait until I can see [him/her] again.”
Honoring Your Loved One’s Passing
You may be looking for some ways to honor your loved one on the anniversary of someone’s death. Here are some meaningful ideas to support someone through this difficult time.
Send a sympathy card
A thoughtful gesture is to send a sympathy card or note to show you support them. There are a lot of feelings that come up around someone’s death, and the one-year anniversary, even just a short note can make all the difference.
Look through a photo album with family and friends
Looking through photos can help to honor the memory of the person who has passed. Visual memories can evoke an emotional expression that renews and restores. Look through old photos and videos—a wedding, a birthday party, a silly night of karaoke.
Send a text or message
Sending a short message or text to the friends and family can help them know you support them. It is an easy, fast, way to let someone know you are thinking about them and the person who has passed away.
Visit the gravesite or location of scattered ashes
You can visit the deceased person’s gravesite or the area you have spread the ashes with friends or family members and reminisce about the memories and feelings you have. Take the deceased loved one’s favorite drinks and food and share some time with the people who cared for that person most.
Send a picture or your favorite memories
Everyone loves pictures and seeing a picture of someone who has passed away may bring up some strong feelings. Sending a picture to friends or family members of a deceased person is a nice gesture and sharing your favorite memory will make it even more special.
A Death Anniversary with Eternally Loved
Eternally Loved was founded with a purpose of providing celebrations focusing on the life that was lived. By providing ethical, empathetic, and professional expertise, we aim to lessen the stress and pain it may cause to plan a celebration of life for a friend, family member or pet. We support you along the way and help you during this extremely difficult time it causes in your life.
Some of our services include planning a celebration of life, loved one’s death anniversary, and offering support so that you can celebrate and honor your loved one that has passed.
Contact Us Now
Eternally Loved offers a favorable and stress-free event planning process. Our satisfied clients are relieved to find that, not only do we shoulder the responsibility of seamless execution of events, but we save a significant amount of time and money with our memorial service event planning services.
We operate within the budget and use our expertise to put on an event that makes your guests feel valued. If you are looking to plan an anniversary of the death of a loved one feel free to give us a call to schedule a consultation with us.
