The experience of losing a loved one is beyond words. You find yourself stuck at every corner, bombarded with memories and what-ifs. It seems impossible to process but the world feels too cruel to give you a choice. You have to grieve and move on, but the process can be easier if their presence isn’t fully gone from your life.
A permanent place of remembrance preserves your loved one’s legacy. It gives you a safe space to remember, grieve, and celebrate them at your own pace. For future generations, these can be records of their family history.
Whether you’ve lost a loved one or are contemplating options for the future, it is a morbid process. Yet, this is a critical decision that you must make. To help you, we’ll explore why you should consider permanent memorialization, what burial spaces you can choose, and what you should keep in mind when selecting a final resting place for your loved ones.
Why is a Permanent Place of Remembrance Important?
Your loved one may be gone, but that doesn’t mean their presence has to be erased. A permanent place of remembrance marks their existence, one for the living. Here are 05 reasons why you should consider permanent memorialization:
A Place for Closure
The process of grieving a loved one can be long, complex, and deeply personal. Losing someone means to feel their absence in your life at every turn. Depending on their role in your life, you can miss their guidance, presence, and actions at every turn. It may take years before you can truly come to terms and find your peace.
Choosing a permanent place for your loved one gives you the time, space, and privacy to mourn them in your way. You can choose to visit them at any point, talk to them, share your life and your emotions. It can be a safe space for you to grieve them as you need to, and gradually find closure.
A Symbol
Death cannot take away the presence and impact of our loved ones in our lives. They live on in our hearts and provide counsel, hope, and strength even from beyond. To have a place where you can go and consult them and speak of new happenings is a choice that you should not miss.
A resting place for them can act as a symbol of their legacy and provide you with a sense of their presence. Even though they are gone, you can still visit them on special occasions and at significant or crucial moments of your life. They can remain as your confidant, your guide, and your advisor.
A Place to Gather
No one should have to mourn alone. Families and communities often come forward to pay their respects and commemorate the deeds of the deceased. A place where they can gather and grieve together provides an opportunity to heal and seek closure together.
Having a permanent burial site will help every family member to come and commemorate them. If your family has chosen a cemetery estate, then you can visit the deceased members of your family together observing religious customs or during special occasions.
Preserving a Legacy
Words may survive the test of time but lose their impact. A permanent place of remembrance is a physical mark of a person’s presence. It can stand the test of time and remind generations to come of a person’s legacy.
A headstone memorial can note a person’s contributions or achievements. As time passes, your loved one’s presence and contribution will not be fully lost. Their impact will remain in your life, and you’ll have the opportunity to introduce their legacy to your future generations.
Religious Considerations
People have religious and spiritual beliefs that require following certain burial rituals and processes. Cemeteries make room for such considerations if a permanent memorialization option has been chosen.
Everyone has the right to be remembered, and in a way that is respectful to their religious or spiritual beliefs. Abrahamic religions, which are Christianity, Judaism, and Islam typically permit or even recommend permanent burials, with specific customs that must be observed.
What Things Should You Consider?
Selecting a burial site can be a difficult process, especially if you’re grieving. To make sure that you don’t get lost in this conundrum, you should consider these factors:
- Choose the Burial Method: Take your time in considering the burial method. Consider the site, the religious implications, and family and social expectations.
- Ask Around: Ask your family, friends, and funeral professionals for recommendations.
- Tour Cemeteries: If you’re planning to choose a site in advance, request tours of your preferred sites from cemeteries. Ask about their services, customization options, regulations, and restrictions.
- Explore Cremation Options: For cremation, look into columbariums and niches. See if there are private spaces and offers for storing a family’s or a couple’s remains.
- Check for Incentive: Cemeteries may provide discounts, or free services if you plan to buy sites for family or couple burials.
- Legal Consultation: Before making your decision, you should consult your lawyer. They can help you ensure the rightful purchase and ownership of the burial site.
If the process becomes too much for you to handle, you should reach out to someone and tackle the issue together. However, if you or anyone around you cannot process additional complexities in such a trying time and happen to be within Vancouver, you should consult us at Bakerview Memorial Cemetery.
How Bakerview Can Help
Bakerview Memorial Cemetery can take off the burden of making this complex and tough decision for you. We will consider your preferences, and financial circumstances and offer you expert advice on which burial method or site to choose. We listen to your needs and guide you through the process step by step. We pay attention to your loved one’s unique values, qualities, and achievements, which are reflected throughout the remembrance.
Conclusion
It can be incredibly difficult to contemplate death, or what to do after. Grieving the loss alone is an unbearable burden. Try not to shoulder it all alone. It’s perfectly fine to ask for help when you have to choose a permanent resting place for your loved one, or you. This is a choice you only get to make once.
Published: October 2, 2024
