Our local funeral home sent us a letter with three memorial cards included. They send them to all of their 'clients' for the year, so that you can write the name of your loved one and a personal message to them and then hang them on the memorial Christmas tree in the window of the funeral home.
Apparently it's quite a common thing, a lot of funeral homes do it.
It's a lovely idea I think - something I'd never thought of before but it's very comforting to know that there's a 'tribute' to your loved one. To know that they're being acknowledged, and that the fact that they aren't here is acknowledged.
Having said that, it was more difficult than I expected. I coped perfectly well when I was actually in there - and it was very comforting to see that the lady from the funeral home actually remembered me, she asked after my dad and my brother and she let me hang the card on the tree for my mum. And then I cried all the way home, I cried a lot during the afternoon and I cried a lot during the evening - more than I have for a long time.
It was a lovely thing to do though, and I'm very glad I did it.
