Preserving Photos and Memories After a Loved One's Death (2024)

FAQs

Preserving Photos and Memories After a Loved One's Death? ›

Create a Memory Book: Instead of a traditional photo album, create a memory book that tells the story of your loved one's life. Include not only photographs but also mementos, letters, and anecdotes. This book can be a cherished heirloom, something that future generations can turn to for inspiration and comfort.

Photographs are how we capture memories with those we cherish, but they're also one of the best ways to preserve your family's story, legacy, and love.

According to Vastu shastra, the picture of ancestors should be placed on the north side of the wall. According to religious scriptures, the south is considered to be the direction of ancestors. Apart from this, the picture of ancestors should never be placed in the living room as it reduces their age.

Use preservation-quality folders and boxes that are large enough to fully enclose and support the photographs. Avoid using acidic cardboard shoe boxes! Photographs in poor condition or that have special value can be individually stored in stable plastic sleeves made from preservation-quality polyester or polyethylene.

It can be healing and helpful to look at pictures of the loved one you've lost – whether it's one day, one month, or one year after he or she has died.

If your loved one is nearby, you may physically feel their touch. Maybe you felt a hand resting comfortingly on your head, the way your mother did when she was alive, or maybe you felt someone hugging you like your husband used to.

Photos and other images work in two ways – keeping old memories alive and anchoring a person to the present moment. When an individual living with a memory impairment looks through old pictures, they are reminded of those special moments. This preserves the memory and keeps it at the forefront of their mind.

One of the best ways to preserve memories captured in old photos is to turn them into digital copies. Here are a handful of ways to digitize your family photos: Use a smartphone app to quickly digitize individual photos for free (or very cheaply.) Use a scanning machine to digitize larger volumes at home.

Cloud storage

If you happen to be a person who isn't very proactive about keeping a good backup of digital photos, syncing them to a photo cloud storage platform is a great way to “set it and forget it.” Some of the more popular options cloud storage options include Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive.

What does your body do when you're grieving? ›

Grief can cause a variety of effects on the body including increased inflammation,8 joint pain, headaches, and digestive problems. It can also lower your immunity, making you more susceptible to illness. Grief also can contribute to cardiovascular problems, difficulty sleeping, and unhealthy coping mechanisms.

Others believed a soul remained in the home for three days after death and any mirror that captured its image would either tarnish or, worse, reflect a picture of the dead permanently.

You want to remember that you also never take photos of the casket or of the person in the viewing. This can be disrespectful to the family. Do keep in mind that it is usually fine to take pictures at the reception. You can also take pictures of the location of the service, from the outside.

There is no right or wrong in this regard. However, it is important to recognize that if the past does not mean much then it should be ok to let go of it and get rid of the pictures, videos or any other memorabilia that a person may possess from the relation that was.”

By showcasing a family portrait in the home you are showing your child they belong and are a valued member of the family unit. This can subconsciously boost your child's self-esteem by showing them they are loved and have a cherished spot in the family.

When deciding what to save, consider which pictures help you tell a story. Did you take a bunch of landscape photos on your last vacation? Keep only the ones you need to tell the story. The photos with people in them are the most interesting now and will also be of more interest later to future generations.

Purchase an archival storage box and sort your photos as you go through them. By labeling the groups thematically you will be able to find “that photo” the next time you want to share a tale, or just reminisce. The more precise you can be with labeling, the better (especially identifying details: Who is in the picture?