How Families Can Honor and Remember Their Deceased Father

It is unfortunate, but with life must also come death. When people lose a loved one, it can be very hard, especially if that loved one is a parent. There are ways though to remember your father and celebrate his life. Here are some ideas to help children remember their parents. If a grandfather or uncle has passed, these ideas will work well too.

If you family is religious, consider celebrating a mass or service in your father's name. For a small donation to the church, some churches allow reserved memorial masses for those that have passed. Your father's name will usually be printed in the bulletin and will be mentioned during prayer concerns. If your church does not participate in this practice, consider asking your priest or pastor to mention a remembrance of all fathers who have passed away.

For those whose father passed away due to a specific cause like cancer, diabetes, was the victim of a drunk driver, or other cause that has a charitable organization (like American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, M.A.D.D., etc.), consider making a donation in your father's name. Also, for families who received Hospice services prior to their father's death, a donation to Hospice in their father's name is also another way to honor his memory while helping other families in need.

Alternatively, another way to honor your father's memory on Father's Day or another day of celebration (birthday, anniversary, etc.) is to hold a family gathering. Consider serving your father's favorite meal and show old home movies featuring your father. If no movies are available, consider creating a slideshow from pictures and create a computer presentation; which is also a good idea for family members unable to attend the gathering, as they can receive the slideshow via email.

Finally, think of all the happy times your dad had with his family. Sharing a favorite memory with everyone can help keep his memory alive. Additionally, it is interesting to think about how he influenced the next generation. For example, did your father play sports with his children and now those children play with their children? Talking about things a father taught, life lessons and family traditions, is one of the best contributions a father can give his family. Consider making a collage with all of the things your father taught you and either bring it to his gravesite or display it for all to see. Keeping a father's memory alive is significant on Father's Day, but with having a visual aid or poignant memory in your life will help keep your father's contributions, gifts and love of his family alive for all to appreciate.