How to Honor the Fifth Anniversary of a Loved One’s Death
The fifth anniversary of a Loved One dying marks a significant milestone in your healing journey.
With each year that passes after a Loved One’s death, grief doesn’t go away, it simply changes. By the time five years have passed, your grief may start to feel a little lighter and the days without your Loved One a little more normal. However, as you approach their death anniversary, you may start to feel your grief become more present again.
Ideas for Honoring a Five-Year Death Anniversary
To help you navigate these emotions, and honor the legacy of your Loved One, consider planning an activity for the day, like:
- Gather with Family and Friends
- Write Them a Letter
- Spend Some Time at a Special Location
- Create a Memorial
- Volunteer Your Time
Gather with Family and Friends
Hosting a gathering of family members and friends who knew your Loved One can be the perfect way to honor their memory. Encourage everyone to bring their favorite photos and stories to share. As you reminisce together, you’ll have the chance to find healing and support as a group.
Write Them a Letter
When we lose someone, we can often find ourselves wishing we could talk to them again. On the fifth anniversary of them dying, take some time to write them a letter full of the milestones, memories, and love you would have wanted to share with them over the last five years. When you’re done, you can let others read it or simply keep it sealed in a special place for yourself.
Spend Some Time at a Special Location
Sometimes, getting out of the house can be healing. Consider spending the day at a location that meant something special to your Loved One. This can be a ballpark where you used to play catch together, a coffee shop where they read the paper every weekend, or even their final resting place. This time away from home can give you a new perspective on your loss and help you to find comfort in feeling near your Loved One again.
Create a Memorial
One meaningful way to honor the life of your Loved One is to create a memorial that commemorates their legacy. Personalized memorials, like Jewelry engraved with their fingerprint, can give you a tangible way to feel your Loved One with you each and every day—even if they’ve been gone for five years.
Volunteer Your Time
Everyone has causes they are passionate about, and your Loved One was no exception. Help their love live on by choosing a charity they supported and spending the day volunteering or hosting a donation drive for them. By paying this goodwill forward to others, you’ll help your Loved One continue to positively impact the lives of countless others for years to come.
More Resources for Honoring a Late Loved One
We sincerely hope you are on your way to healing and can find comfort in your Loved One’s memory. If you need more help navigating loss, please visit these additional resources:
- 10 Creative Ideas for Remembering Your Late Loved One on Their Birthday
- Why Grief is Harder During the Holidays + How You Can Feel Better This Year
- What to Do on the First Anniversary of a Loved One’s Death
