Dealing with Grief at Thanksgiving: Ten Ways to Honor Your Loved One

By: VGFS
Tuesday, November 10, 2020

The holiday season can create a cascade of feelings when you’re bereaved. It brings fond memories for some people, while for others it’s a painful reminder of loss.

For many of us, it represents a bittersweet combination of the two. Whether your loss is recent or it took place years ago, this time of year has a way of stirring up our deepest emotions. Acknowledging your grief and finding positive outlets for it can help you regain a sense of control.

In this article, we’ll share ten ways you can honor your departed loved one at Thanksgiving and throughout the holiday season.

1.     Place his or her photo at the dinner table.
When we gather together for Thanksgiving dinner, it represents a time of fellowship and gratitude. Prominently displaying a photograph of your loved one is a poignant gesture that will attract everyone’s attention and keep the joyous memories alive.

2.     Prepare your loved one’s favorite meal.
Was your husband’s fondness for macaroni and cheese legendary? Or perhaps your mom made the world’s best sweet potato casserole? If you are hosting Thanksgiving dinner or are asked to bring a dish, whip up a batch of your beloved's favorite food. Be sure to let everyone know its significance as you pass the dish around the table.

3.     Make a special toast.
At the start of the holiday meal, fill some pretty glasses with your loved one’s favorite beverage and drink a toast in his or her honor. As the glasses are raised, ask your guests to share happy stories and favorite recollections. 

4.     Create a tribute video.
If you are technologically savvy, why not sift through your photographs and create a video that honors the one who passed on? Set it to his or her favorite music and share it with your family members and friends after the meal.

5.     Construct a memory table.
If you are hosting the Thanksgiving celebration this year, set up a small table in a quiet part of your home. Ask your guests to bring a memento or favorite photograph of your loved one to add to this display. You may wish to place a battery-operated candle or small electric lamp on the table to signify his or her eternal presence.

6.     Donate your gently used winter clothing.
As cold weather approaches, those who are less fortunate will be in need of jackets, coats, gloves, scarves, and hats. The long holiday weekend provides a great opportunity to clean out your closets and donate some essential winter gear in your loved one’s memory.

7.     Visit your loved one’s final resting place.
Whether it’s at the gravesite or the place where you scattered the cremated remains, spend some quiet time there if you are up to it. Share your feelings with the departed and leave a memento to signify his or her continued presence in your heart.

8.     Create a Thanksgiving memory journal.
Writing down thoughts and feelings often proves to be an effective way to cope with grief. Whether you prefer using a computer or pen and paper, journal some favorite Thanksgiving memories involving your loved one and continue adding entries each year at this time.

9.     Perform a charitable act.
Churches and other charitable organizations usually offer opportunities to "adopt" underprivileged families during the holidays. Why not perform an act of kindness in memory of your loved one and make the holidays brighter for others at the same time? It’s a win-win for everyone!

10.  Enjoy your loved ones.
Remember to live in the moment and appreciate your family and friends. Although you may be missing your departed loved one, your life is still ahead of you. Relish it to the fullest and create new, happy memories.

Do what feels right for you. There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to pay homage to your loved one. Whether you perform a few of these ideas or think of some other meaningful way to honor the departed this Thanksgiving, remembrance is a wonderful gift of love.

If you have questions or would like additional help during your period of bereavement, our compassionate professionals are here for you. Please reach out to us anytime.

About Vaughn Greene Funeral Services: For more than 20 years, Vaughn Greene Funeral Services has been providing a ministry of care to Baltimore’s African American community. As a leading local, minority- and family-owned provider, we promise to provide our highest level of service and respect to families who entrust us to honor their loved ones. For more information, please call us at 410.655.0015 or visit us online at https://vaughncgreene.com/.

Leave a comment
Name*:
Email:
Comment*:
Please enter the numbers and letters you see in the image. Note that the case of the letters entered matters.

Comments

Please wait

Previous Posts

Saying Goodbye: Six Things to Know and Do When a Loved One is Passing Away

Saying goodbye to a loved one passing away is undeniably hard, but your reassurance can help you both find peace. While final farewells are never easy, there are things you can do to ease the pain...

What Should You Do with Your Departed Loved One's Belongings?

When you are bereaved, sorting through your loved one’s belongings can be especially challenging. Losing a beloved family member or friend is one of life’s most difficult trials. There are many de...

Mental Health Stigma in the Black Community, How Far Have We Come?

The US Department of Health & Human Services reports that African American adults are 20 percent more likely to report serious mental health distress than their white adult counterparts. Wit...

It’s Stroke Awareness Month. Here are Seven Important Facts Everyone Should Know.

May is National Stroke Awareness Month, so it’s the perfect time to learn about this leading cause of death and disability in America. Strokes or brain attacks are quite common, affecting an estim...

Can’t Sleep at Night? Here are Seven Surprising Reasons Why

When you can’t sleep, everything feels like a struggle. If your slumber is lacking, the reasons behind it might surprise you. Sleep deprivation can cause a range of problems, ranging from mild irr...

Senior Home Safety: Seven Essential Things to Know

Today, one in six Americans is age 65 or older. By the year 2050, the U.S. senior population is expected to rise from 48 million to an astonishing 88 million. Worldwide, those aged 80 and above are...

Seasonal Depression, also known as Winter Blues: Is it Just Depression?

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression also known as seasonal depression or winter depression.   People with SAD experience mood changes and symptoms similar to depressi...

Six Inspiring Outdoor Memorial Ideas to Honor Your Departed Loved One

From simple stones to elaborate gardens, there is no shortage of meaningful outdoor memorial ideas to pay tribute to a loved one who has passed on. When you’re deeply grieved, finding a unique way...

How Much Do You Know About Multiple Sclerosis? Seven Important Facts About this Neurological Disease

March is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month. Learn about the neurological disease that affects one person every hour in the U.S. A neurological disease that disrupts the flow of information betwee...

Legally Scattering Ashes: Keep These Six Important Facts in Mind

Legally scattering ashes isn’t complicated but it does require some research and planning. The scattering of a loved one’s ashes can bring peace and closure to surviving family members. For many, ...