Three Ways to Remember Loved Ones This Thanksgiving

By: Allison Gilbert

Holidays are frequently challenging for individuals who’ve lost loved ones, but they also offer unrivaled opportunities for keeping memories of family and friends alive. With Thanksgiving nearly here, try these three ideas from my book, Passed and Present: Keeping Memories of Loved Ones Alive, for celebrating those you miss most:

Make Memory Magnets

Rather than using conventional place cards at your holiday gathering, create memory magnets featuring images of your loved ones. Encourage family members to take these sentimental favors home to use on their refrigerators or washing machines. You’ll need epoxy bubble stickers, magnets with adhesive backing, and scissors. First, affix the epoxy stickers (sticky-side down) to the top of your picture, giving it a glass-like finish. Next, cut a piece of magnetic strip to the size and shape of your sticker and place it on the back. Done! In less than five minutes, guests have created a memory magnet they can appreciate every day.

Use Social Media

Post memories of loved ones on social media, tagging relatives to share their pictures and recollections, too. I used this strategy on the 20th anniversary of my mother’s death. The result was a digital celebration of her life.

Create Poignant Playlists

Use memories to inspire meaningful holiday playlists. Before my uncle died, he dictated a list of his favorite pieces of music. This was an especially powerful moment for me because he was an accomplished, Grammy Award-winning musician. What songs did your loved one enjoy? Play the list during your Thanksgiving gathering.

If you use any of these ideas this holiday season, be sure to share your experience in our private Facebook community, which you can join here. Your experiences may inspire others to try something new! Finally, for a live conversation featuring grief experts who understand what you’re going through, join one of For Grief’s monthly Passed and Present conversations. 

Allison Gilbert is co-author of Listen, World!: How the Intrepid Elsie Robinson Became America's Most-Read Woman, the first biography of American writer Elsie Robinson. Her previous books include, Passed and Present: Keeping Memories of Loved Ones Alive. On Allison’s popular grief and resilience blog, she features Q & A’s with some of the most notable names in our culture today including, Arianna Huffington, Jon Stewart, and bestselling authors Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Dani Shapiro, and Susan Orlean. She is host of "Women Journalists of 9/11: Their Stories,” a 20-part documentary series produced in collaboration with the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. Featured journalists include Savannah Guthrie, Maggie Haberman, Linda Wertheimer, Dana Bash, and many others.

Please take a moment to follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. She’s everywhere as “agilbertwriter."