How to Build a Stronger Legacy for Your Deceased Parent

Experiencing the loss of a parent is grief like no other. They are the people who raised you – who taught you how to think, act, and be in this chaotic world. Having a mother or a father pass away can often feel like a hole left inside of you without any way to fill it. 

While no one can bypass grief altogether, and it will likely still hit you even many years from now, there is something you can do to make the process a little easier: building a stronger legacy for your deceased parent. Let their values and beliefs live on with these methods. 

Plant a Tree in Their Name

A legacy is something that whispers on even long after the person has passed away. Arguably, there is no better way of doing that than planting a tree in their name. Think about it – trees can live for hundreds or even thousands of years, far longer than any human, which means the tree will likely still be around several generations from now. You can create lasting memories with tree memorials, even picking a beautiful tree type like a redwood that will reach incredible heights in a forest in the United States. You can then take a trip to that forest when you want to remember your parent and experience the life they have contributed to. 

Share Stories with the Younger Generation

Your memories with your parent might be strong, but what about your kids, nieces, or nephews? They might not have gotten the chance to get to know your parent in the same way, especially if your parent died far too soon. If so, build a stronger legacy by actively talking about your parent, always sharing stories about times you spent together while they were alive. The younger generation will absorb these stories and perhaps even pass them onto their own kids one day!

Take a Lesson and Instill it as a Personal Value

Was there a single lesson your parent taught you that stands out from everything else? A parent’s job is to guide you, and that inevitably means their values are passed on to you, sometimes without you even realizing it. 

To keep their legacy alive, take one of the lessons that resonates and make it one of your own values that you hold dear. For example, if they were particular about manners, you could make sure you always have the best manners, especially when meeting new people. If your parent was someone who really cared about the earth, it would make sense to donate to green charities and make decisions that contribute to sustainability. 

Create a Memory Journal 

Fill a journal with everything you have related to your parent. That could include: 

• Photographs
• Letters
• Quotes they often said
• Funny stories
• Memories from loved ones
• Small mementos 

It’s a great way of cherishing their memory and exactly who they are. When everything is placed into a memory book, who they were can be remembered for generations to come.