The loss of a child is one of the worst pains one can ever go through. If you know someone who is experiencing that pain first-hand, you understandably want to offer comfort to them in any way that you can.
One appropriate way to do so is by gifting your loved one something that will gently remind them of their son and who he was in life. So today we’ll be sharing our selections for the best memorial gifts for someone who lost a son.
Top 10 Memorial Gifts for Loss of Son
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1. Make a Keepsake from a Favorite Shirt
A favorite shirt often becomes a treasured keepsake. Not only are there memories of your son wearing the shirt, but also many people love the scent that lingers on the clothing.
That’s why a t-shirt teddy bear is a beautiful idea for a gift. It’s precious because is sewn from the shirt of the son who has passed away, often with custom embroidery of a name or initials.
Besides a teddy bear, you can choose from several other stuffed animals: a cat, a bunny, a dog, a gecko, and elephant, and more.
Other popular ideas made from a loved one’s clothing include pillows, totes, quilts, and ornaments.
2. Personalized Memorial Bird Feeder
Bird feeders are a wonderful way to memorialize a loved one. Placed outside among the trees and the birds, a bird feeder can bring a sense of calm and peace to your loved one during an otherwise tumultuous time; as they navigate their fried over the loss of their son.
This custom-engraved bird feeder from Urns Northwest is handmade from cedar wood right here in the U.S.A. You can personalize the front panel with an inscription and anything else. The back side is also available for additional custom text.
3. Memorial Garden Stone
There’s nothing like stepping outside among nature, out in the sunlight, to provide a much-needed sense of grounding just when it’s needed most.
Urns Made in the USA
Gift the grieving parent this beautiful garden stone to set in the earth and to bring them comfort every time they look at it.
4. Rustic Wood Memorial Photo
Of all keepsakes, photos are perhaps treasured the most of all.
This gorgeous rustic photo is printed on a round of natural basswood. It is meant to last and makes a wonderful keepsake display for any location in the house. Simply send the artist the picture you want represented and they will take care of the rest.
5. Custom Memorial Necklace
There are no words that you could say to provide the comfort that your friend needs right now. Allow this stunning memorial necklace – and the included personalized message – provide her with a little bit of peace.
This custom necklace will feature her child’s initial as well as his name in the sympathy message and comes with several options for metal and birthstone.
6. A Hug in a Box
This care package is a “Hug in a Box” that will remind your friend that you are thinking of them during this most difficult time.
Multiple options are available, each carefully thought-out and beautifully packaged.
7. Personalized Memorial Plaque
Next on our list of memorial gifts for loss of son is this gorgeous plaque from Northwest Gifts.
Handcrafted in Oregon, this original plaque features personalization of name as well as dates. An engraved flock of birds and thoughtful quote adorn the rest of the memorial.
It’s also available as a discreet wall-mounted cremation urn.
8. Custom Photo Plaque with Lights
A simple, affordable, yet oh-so-sweet gift, this acrylic memorial photo plaque includes personalization of the picture and text of your choice. It includes a stand with your choice of bevel and lights up to create a lovely glow around the little one’s image.
9. Custom Engraved Memorial Tumbler
Here a keepsake that your loved one will be able to use on a daily basis. Help memorialize their son while also gently reminding them to take care of themselves.
This Polar Camel custom-engraved drink tumbler includes “In Loving Memory” personalization of name and dates. Available in a variety of colors and styles.
10. DIY Digital Video/Photo Collection
The last gift featured on our list today is a do-it-yourself one. Because there are just some things in this world that money can’t buy.
This one is going to take a bit of work on your part, but the end result will be a wonderful keepsake gift that your loved one will treasure forever. All you have to do is compile video clips and/or photos of their son, and create a slideshow or other video. Save it to a drive and it will be theirs to watch and reminisce over whenever they’re ready to.
If you like this gift idea, here are some articles and websites to help get you started with the tech aspect/logistics of it all:
Here are 50+ more ways to memorialize a loved one.
How to Show Sympathy at the Loss of a Son
Now that you’ve got some inspiration for memorial gifts, let’s think about the etiquette of sympathy gift-giving.
Tip #1: Do mention their son by his name. Your loved one is still processing the fact that their child has passed away. Mentioning his name aloud when offering your sympathy (“I’m so sorry to hear about Kevin”) offers validation to the loss.
To help you with what to say, we’ve put together a list of 101 condolence messages to show your love and support during this difficult time.
Tip #2: Don’t refer to any future children. This one should be a no-brainer; if your loved one has lost a young child or infant son, do not refer to any future children he or she may have. (“I’m sure there is room in your heart to love again” or “At least you can still have children.”)
To your loved one, there is no one more important in this moment than the child they have just lost.
Tip #3: Do give your loved one time and space to process their loss. Unless they’ve otherwise asked you for help, let them be. Just as their love for their son knew no end, so will not their grief.
That said, there is a difference between needing space to grieve and heal versus falling into depression. Which leads to our next point…
Tip #4: Do keep an eye on them. Like we’ve mentioned, losing a child is life’s greatest tragedy, no matter how old that child was. Be there for them, and watch out for their welfare. Here are 22 tips on ways help someone who is grieving.
If you notice over time that your loved one is not participating in life like they once did, or are depressed or suffering another way physically or psychologically, if may be best to encourage them to seek professional or spiritual help.
Read Next: 15 Compassionate Gifts for Grieving Moms
