How to Honor Your Deceased Father on Father's Day

Father's Day can be a sad time for those people whose dads are no longer living. There are many ways to honor a deceased father or grandfather on Father's Day, however, and to keep his memory alive.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Small Photo Albums

1. Bring out pictures of your dad and show them to other family members, with a request that they hold his image in their minds as they celebrate Father's Day.
2. Talk about your father with people who remember him. Remember funny stories and special family moments. Try not to dwell on the sad parts of your family history, however ' Father's Day should be a time to celebrate your dad's life and achievements.
3. Try to emulate the attributes you valued and respected most in your father - a great sense of humor, an unerring sense of direction, and so on. If you have children, explain to them what attributes you think they may have inherited from your dad.
4. Ask your family members to contribute their own memories of your father. If your children were very young when he passed away, talking about their grandpa frequently may help them to remember him as they grow older.
5. Consider visiting your father's grave on Father's Day, if it is close by. Even if you believe that the spirit of your loved one does not stay in the place where he is buried, a quiet moment by his grave may make you feel closer to him.
6. Spend some time alone if you can, thinking about your own childhood and remembering your father in your own special way. No matter what your spiritual beliefs are, a few minutes of quiet meditation can help to keep your memories of your dad alive.
7. Do something your father would have enjoyed on Father's Day. If he liked to play hockey or watch basketball, go to a game or play one of your own. If he loved the water, take a walk on the beach with your family, or go out on a boat for the afternoon.
8. Give a Father's Day donation to your dad's favorite charity in his name. This is a wonderful way to help others while honoring his memory.

Tips & Warnings

• Make a photo collage or shadow box for yourself, your children or your siblings, as a lasting tribute to your father. Place your favorite photographs of him in a frame with multiple mat openings, or place a few special objects ' a watch, a medal, or some other token of his memory ' in a shadow box display, along with a photo of him as you like to remember him.
• Accept invitations to participate in the Father's Day activities of other families if you feel up to it. Helping to honor someone else's dad may also help you get through the day without a heavy heart.
• Try to find someone to talk to about your feelings if you find that Father's Day depresses you ' you shouldn't have to face your grief alone. A close friend or family member may be glad to help out and may help you deal with the emotional impact of the other Father's Day celebrations going on around you.