https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 12 Apr 2026 12:35:55 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/honoring-a-lost-loved-one-during-the-holidays#post-2408446 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 10:49:40 +0000 FreckledFox 2408446@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We bought/made a special ornament to honor our son who passed away over the summer. We also bought him a gift, a "Star" like the ones you can buy and name. Buying him a gift made it feel like he was still here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/honoring-a-lost-loved-one-during-the-holidays#post-2395137 Sun, 20 Dec 2015 16:57:56 +0000 Applesandbananas 2395137@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@alphagam84: I'll wall you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/honoring-a-lost-loved-one-during-the-holidays#post-2395125 Sun, 20 Dec 2015 16:17:55 +0000 alphagam84 2395125@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Applesandbananas: That's a great idea. Would you mind posting a photo of the ornament? What poem did you use? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/honoring-a-lost-loved-one-during-the-holidays#post-2394956 Sun, 20 Dec 2015 10:22:49 +0000 Greentea 2394956@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Turtle: That's nice! DD's great great grandmother used to make everyone this insanely good fudge and we are hoping to surprise everyone by taking over! We were able to get the secret recipe from one of her daughters, now in her 80s! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/honoring-a-lost-loved-one-during-the-holidays#post-2394950 Sun, 20 Dec 2015 10:06:17 +0000 LCTBQE 2394950@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This isn't ceremonious at all, but whenever we get together my family and I just talk a lot (lovingly!) about our grandparents, who have all passed away many years ago now. It sounds obvious, but I also cherish a couple of their holiday decorations that were passed down and displaying them in a place of honor is really special to us. We tell the kids in the family whom they belonged to and then talk about the grandparent. </p> <p>I'm so, so sorry about your dad. :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/honoring-a-lost-loved-one-during-the-holidays#post-2394942 Sun, 20 Dec 2015 09:57:26 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2394942@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am in the process of looking for a hummingbird ornament that we will put on our tree every year because they were my moms favorite. We will also be continuing a couple traditions that remind me of my mom and as the kids get older I will tell them stories about their grandma. @deerylou: lots of hugs &lt;3 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/honoring-a-lost-loved-one-during-the-holidays#post-2394932 Sun, 20 Dec 2015 09:40:55 +0000 .twist. 2394932@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@deerylou: thanks for making this thread. We lost my dad in April so this will be a first for us too. Sorry for your loss.</p> <p>Love the ornament idea and will probably do that too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/honoring-a-lost-loved-one-during-the-holidays#post-2394892 Sun, 20 Dec 2015 07:56:56 +0000 Applesandbananas 2394892@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@deerylou: I'm sorry for your loss. </p> <p>I made ornaments this year, with our loved one's photo and a special poem. Some family members aren't ready to display it, which is fine, and others placed the ornament front and center on their trees. It seemed to go over well, since everyone could figure out where to put it, when they were ready.</p> <p>The quality was actually really good too, I used shutterfly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/honoring-a-lost-loved-one-during-the-holidays#post-2394869 Sun, 20 Dec 2015 02:43:59 +0000 Mrs. Turtle 2394869@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I was a kid, my great aunt used to send everyone a box of those sunkist jelly candies every Christmas. After she died, another family member took it upon themselves to keep sending the boxes of candies to everyone. The tag always read "candies from heaven." It was a nice way to remember her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/honoring-a-lost-loved-one-during-the-holidays#post-2394867 Sun, 20 Dec 2015 02:16:00 +0000 deerylou 2394867@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I so appreciate all the ideas! We shopped for a special ornament, today and I think it will be nice to have it on our tree this year, and for those to come. </p> <p>Sending comfort to you all; it's tough, this season. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/honoring-a-lost-loved-one-during-the-holidays#post-2394847 Sun, 20 Dec 2015 00:01:18 +0000 Greentea 2394847@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What about planting a tree in the yard or picking one and decorating it every year in their honor? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/honoring-a-lost-loved-one-during-the-holidays#post-2394795 Sat, 19 Dec 2015 21:03:15 +0000 Mirage 2394795@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We bought a special ornament for my mom, and we make a point to have a nice arrangement for the cemetery. In the past we have also left a place setting for the loved ones that are no longer with us. It's an old wives tale to keep a place setting for them for when their spirits visit. It's a nice way to acknowledge them but not have to talk about them openly if it's still too raw. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/honoring-a-lost-loved-one-during-the-holidays#post-2393853 Fri, 18 Dec 2015 15:17:12 +0000 MaryM 2393853@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mom buys a fresh wreath for my dad's grave each year, and has a particular ornament she hangs in the center of it. </p> <p>My daughter is buried with my dad, so I added an ornament to the wreath this year that was specifically for her. </p> <p>At home, my mom has a photo of my dad sitting on Santa's lap when he was little and that's always in a prominent place (but it also was when he was alive). And I think we each have a few vintage ornaments that were his when he was little that we have on our own trees. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/honoring-a-lost-loved-one-during-the-holidays#post-2393815 Fri, 18 Dec 2015 14:55:33 +0000 Greentea 2393815@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You could visit a Christmas tree farm and get a special wreath to take to the site. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/honoring-a-lost-loved-one-during-the-holidays#post-2393806 Fri, 18 Dec 2015 14:52:28 +0000 deerylou 2393806@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Golden: This is a lovely idea. We're getting a tree tomorrow, so I'll make a point to also pick out a special ornament. </p> <p> @regberadaisy: It's definitely tough not to fall into a solemn state of mine around the holidays. This is our first one, so it's a foreign situation. I like the idea of a potted tree, for sure. </p> <p>Thank you, ladies. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/honoring-a-lost-loved-one-during-the-holidays#post-2393793 Fri, 18 Dec 2015 14:45:43 +0000 regberadaisy 2393793@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@deerylou: we lost BIL unexpectedly around the holidays, 5 years ago. We have gotten a wreath or potted mini Christmas tree for his grave site in years past. To be honest, it is still too raw for DH, that it will be a few years before we do something regularly to honor his memory. For now I am grateful that for the first time in 5 years, he hasn't hit a depressive funk by now!</p> <p>@Golden: I really love this idea. Our tree is mainly special ornaments so this is perfect for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/honoring-a-lost-loved-one-during-the-holidays#post-2393771 Fri, 18 Dec 2015 14:34:08 +0000 Golden 2393771@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Why don't you go out and buy one special ornament and make it "Grandpa's". Every year when you decorate your tree you can talk about your dad, share a story or memory, and have the kids help put his ornament in a special place on the tree. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/honoring-a-lost-loved-one-during-the-holidays#post-2393752 Fri, 18 Dec 2015 14:26:33 +0000 deerylou 2393752@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For those of you who have lost a loved one, do you do anything special to honor them, during the holiday season? </p> <p>We unexpectedly lost my dad over the summer. My family is pretty tight knit and DD was especially close with him. I'd really like to somehow incorporate his memory in our Christmas celebration, but am coming up short.</p> <p>Anyone have a special tradition they'd like to share? Something toddler-friendly (DD is almost 2.5) that can easily grow with her. Religious elements are fine.</p> <p>Thanks! </p>